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What are You Known For?

Sam Stringer

Oct 28, 2024

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you
to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Romans 16:19

At my longest pastorate of six years, I started off the first six months with five funerals. Now, for some
pastors, that’s probably not much to speak of, but I’d only done a few before that time so it was becoming
a “wow” moment to me consistently. I seriously began wondering when it would slow down and practically
was nudging God in prayer, “Do you think you could keep them alive for a while?” I don’t mean that in any
disrespect, but it’s a heavy thing to do funerals, what with the emotions and the gravity (and formality) of it
all.

At every funeral I led, I found that people wanted their loved one to be remembered for certain things, but
there were at times those areas that people didn’t want to necessarily broach. C.S. Lewis spoke into this
years ago, that a person may be forgotten after they’re gone for who they were, and were they to come
back for the briefest of times, their character would be remembered in an instant, warts and all. We have
a way of “painting up” the character of loved ones after they’re gone, much like the way that morticians
make people look good for their viewing.

What will you be remembered for? What will those who know you best remember you for? I wonder, when
it came to interacting with you, did they feel more drawn to God as a result of being around you, or less?
You see, people are affected by us all the time, sometimes for the better, but sometimes for the worse. If
your words and actions draw attention to yourself, it’s going to be very hard to deny the influence of the
people you’ve been around. If Jesus enters into your conversations often, they’ll recall that, too.

I remember being an appraiser for the assessor’s office years ago and surveying two areas at the same
time that had been hit either by a tornado or by a flood. Do you think it was obvious that natural disasters
had come through? Absolutely! Trees were gone, houses were moved, houses were no more, streets
were impassable in certain places. Water lines rose high on gutted houses. People screamed at me,
“What are you here for? Can’t you see it’s all gone!” Well, um, yeah, that’s why I’m making sure you don’t
get taxed on it any more...

We can make up stories all day long about who you were when you’re gone, but you know, the lasting
impact will be the influence you left on the people remembering you. Paul says to the Romans that their
“obedience has become known to all.” This caused gladness in him, and rightly so. Nevertheless, he still
gave them further admonition: “be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.” Be like a well-
learned adult in doing good and be naïve like a baby when it comes to doing wrong. By the way, my wife
tells me that I’m a terrible liar, and I think that’s admirable…I guess.

The obedience of a Christian or a group of them is not just something people become aware of; it’s
something that people get inspired by to step forth in faith themselves. It will repulse those who want no
part of it, but it will fuel those who want more of it. Be that person. Look for those people, too. Your
obedience, your bravery, they’re not just about you; they’re about other people who need that fire under
their seat, too. Be so humble that you follow God and give that gift to others in the process. It’ll make
those who have served you warm in their hearts, too, knowing that their service wasn’t in vain. Be braver
than lions.

Sam Stringer

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
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