Epitaphs

“He served His own generation by the will of God.”- Epitaph of David by Paul.

We don’t see written epitaphs as much anymore.

I am ready to meet my Maker.

Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter. –Winston Churchill

Reading Churchill’s tombstone words reminds us of what a confrontational character he had, for the good of the world at the time of the threatening trials of the Nazi Empire and WWII.

Here was buried Thomas Jefferson,

author of the Declaration of American Independence,

of the statute of Virginia for religious freedom,

and father of the University of Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson was a dynamic and controversial man. Many characterize him as unchristian. Yet he was the author of statues for religious freedom in our country. He wanted people to pursue their religion without any governmental interference.

I like Benjamin Franklin’s tombstone that tells a tale of his journalistic prowess and sense of humor.

The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms.

But the Work shall not be wholly lost; For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.

William Keats, the poet, tells us of enemies and how our lives are but a vapor as the Bible tells us in James.

This Grave contains all that was Mortal of a Young English Poet

Who on his Death Bed in the Bitterness of his Heart at the Malicious Power of his Enemies

Desired these words to be engraved on his Tomb Stone

“Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.”

“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.”- Mark Twain

Yes, we are eternal, meaning we were conceived in God’s mind before the beginning of time and we will life beyond time if we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough. ~ Alexander the Great

This is quite a thought of histories great conqueror.

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald (same as the last line of The Great Gatsby.)  How about this sad thought from a non-Christian author?

Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty I’m Free At Last. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.  The times seem to tell us that racism continues to plague our society.

I told you so, you damned fools. ~ H. G. Wells

Pretty straight comment on life and death as a renown author presented it.

"John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."

I don’t know what posterity will say about me. I just want someone to say, “Saved by grace, he loved the Lord.”