Small and Great

           Every now and then a group wants me to complete a survey and at the end of the survey, they ask a lot of questions concerning who I am and where I came from. They want to know how much money I make, how long I went to school, how many degrees I have and the race to which I was born. I often think, “What difference does it make?” I have found that the people in the North like fried potatoes and toast for breakfast while the people in the South like grits and biscuits. The sad thing about all of the statistics is at the end, the only thing that will matter is if they are saved or not. Now, how does that affect how we feel in regard to the passing of an “important” or “influential” person? Revelation 20:12-13 says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” 

          When the average person passes away, they don't usually lie in state anywhere. That is always reserved for those who are heads of countries or important political or governmental people. When a celebrity dies, people flock from the four corners of the earth to leave flowers and teddy bears at the front door of their home or of a famous place that was associated with them. I knew a lady who was a very devout fan of Elvis and had his picture on her wall, on her bed on a blanket and even on the top of her little Christmas tree. She once asked me, “Do you think Elvis went to heaven?” None of us know about the “others” in the world but one thing we do know. The passage for today reminds us that the dead, “small and great” will stand before God and if it is at this place, the Great White Throne, their destiny has already been determined. There will be poor people and rich people. There will be those who did a lot of good deeds and those that did nothing. There will be those who were great politician and those who did nothing for their country. There will be those who had degrees in education and those who were completely uneducated. There will be those who laid in state and those who dropped dead in a corn field. There will be those whose remains are in marble tombs and those who are in unmarked graves. The only thing that will make a difference is their own personal relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Philippian Jailer got the answer from Paul...believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Jesus Himself made the statement, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” That is the difference. Trophies, money, degrees, influence, power will all mean nothing. Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? Don't depend upon good thoughts about others and their passing, but whether they had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Praise God today for His holiness and justice.