HOW YOU LIVE MATTERS

I Kings 15:5  For David had done what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and had obeyed the Lord’s commands throughout his life, except in the affair concerning Uriah the Hittite.

      Funerals are a time in which we gather to support the grieving family and remember the life of the person who had died.  As a preacher, I have been a part of a lot of funerals.  Some people who have died are a real joy to remember because of the good life they have lived.  For some the memories aren’t so good for they chose to live life without goodness.  Some have laid up treasuries in heaven and their funeral is a celebration of life well lived.  For others their treasures have been laid down on earth and you do the best you can to speak well of them for their family’s sake.

       King David was remembered as a man of God who pleased the Lord.  He lived his whole life committed to doing what was right before God.  But like all the rest of us, he had not lived a perfect life.  Even though God was pleased with David, he really messed up as far as his dealings with Uriah and Bathsheba were concerned.  David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then tried to cover it up by having her husband, Uriah, killed in battle.  To David’s credit, he repented of this great sin.  He owned up to what he had done and sought God’s forgiveness.   God forgave him and David lived out the rest of his life honoring God.

      We too are faced with many decisions to make regarding sin in our lives.  We are constantly confronted by opportunities to sin against God.  We too must determine in our hearts whether or not we will do it and if we do it, whether or not we will repent.  Sin is a choice.  No one has to sin and everyone has the ability to not sin if they keep their eyes focused on Christ.  We must consider what the desire of our hearts is.  Do we want to please God or not with the way we live?  Do we want to do what is right before Him?  Are we taking precautions to protect our hearts from falling into sin?  Are we determined to live pure lives before God?

      A life worth living is a life that is determined to please God.  It is a life that strives to not sin.  It is a life that values the importance of repentance when sin does happen.  Live so that there will be a great celebration in heaven and on earth when you die for a life lived that pleased God.