Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday July 22, 2010

A longtime friend sent the following to me. I would give his name, but if his friends discovered that he reads Shakespeare he would be friendless and soon.

"The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones."

Julius Caesar, Act 3, scene 2.

Several names come to mind among them, John Dillinger, Al Capone and other Sunday School types. For many years I lived in close proximity to the farm where Dillinger grew up and how many of you can think of one good thing concerning this man? I have been friends with several verifiable friends of Al Capone and I ask the same question; got anything good on him?

The point is not to in anyway denigrate the evil associated with these two, but to make a point. It is a matter of record that each of the mentioned men did in fact do very good things for many people. Yet their "good side" is buried with their bones. The Avon Bard knew his stuff for sure.

The same principle holds true to Bible Characters. Let's play word/person association for a moment. What is the first name that comes to your mind when I say Samson? I'll bet the Dillinger farm you said/thought Delilah. Yet Samson was a grand hero in the long struggle against the Philistines. For most people his good is buried with his bones.

Many mistakenly think that when Judgment Day comes, somehow God will weigh your bad against your good and if good outweighs the bad, you're home free. Of course this is not true. Only one past action will be considered on this initial balance day; what about Jesus? Your yes or no will be known by the Omnipotent God to be true or false.

It is certain that men and women, even boys and girls that name Christ as Saviour are to be people of integrity, of compassion and who serve people without a selfish motive. I did Not say all do, but we are supposed to be about our Father's business and His business is letting all the world know about His great love in that He sent His only, His one of a kind, Son, to take our/their place in the judgment and to impart to them His righteousness in place of their sin.

Exchanging our sin for His righteousness is the best transaction in history or eternity.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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