The Cambridge Dictionary explains CERTAINTY as something that cannot be doubted.
There are few absolute certainties in life, we are born, we know for sure that one day we will die. What happens after death is our choice. Yesterday was a tough day, we bid farewell to someone we dearly loved. He was an amazing example, someone who walked the talk and lived a faithful life. An example of someone who was making every effort to imitate Jesus always. At the service, we were introduced to what Paul wrote:
7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Paul declared confidence in his own efforts for the sake of Christ, he states that he has completed the mission God gave him and that he had specifically held to the truth, and, because of his faithfulness, he was certain of heavenly rewards! Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2: 8–9), yet eternal rewards are based on one’s faithful service to Christ and there is certainty if we remain faithful to Him!
Uncle Sam was confident by his efforts for the sake of Christ, many will attest to this, me personally experienced it from my early memories of knowing him and right through to his last day. Uncle Sam completed the mission God gave him, he surely held to the truth and his faithfulness was what tough me so much in life. Uncle Sam was certain of the heavenly reward that awaited him, he was ready, and he even said it the night before he left this earth. Uncle Sam was so certain of the ‘Crown’ that was awaiting him. We are encouraged and there is certainty, as Paul describes this, that any faithful believer has the potential to receive this crown!
We all miss Uncle Sam, we were all shaking as we stood around his grave, it was hard for Aunty Ranji as well as all present. I was encouraged to remind Aunty Ranji how Uncle Sam would say how the two of them (U’Sam and A’Ranji) were one flesh1, he was all for the true meaning of marriage, for unity and the fear of God. He ensured that the family would be together where possible and the two of them always had an open house. They complimented each other and this is what made each of them unique, special, and purposeful.
In Psalm 90:12, we learn to ask God to ‘Teach us to realize how short our lives are. Then our hearts will become wise.’ God has given us only one life, and we must make every day count. Uncle Sam taught us the power of legacy, he was all about what he could give (Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, and Christ), not what he could get, he was never about himself, he was all for others. Uncle Sam has left a legacy, he has taught us so much, we must now make our legacy matter!
“If I fail, I try again, and again, and again. If YOU fail, are you going to try again? The human spirit can handle much worse than we realize. It matters HOW you are going to FINISH. Are you going to finish strong?”
Nick Vujicic
1. Jesus referred to creation and God’s original purpose of marriage in Mark 10:8.
INSPIRE 