The Eternal Value of Your Life
By Bill Roberts, Washington Conference Ministerial director
This summer I attended a memorial service at the Puyallup church for Bob Paulsen. I also attended one at the Renton church for Clem Martin.
Both men were pillars of their churches and made a deep impact on the whole conference. They leave a powerful legacy of service and love for Jesus.
They remind me of the story in 2 Samuel 23:9-10 where David’s men encountered the Philistines. There was taunting before the battle, and the Israelites retreated. Yet taunting didn’t lead to a Philistine victory. An Israelite named Eleazar stood his ground and fought.
The Lord brought about a great victory that day.
Eleazar was no superhero. He was a man of faith who took a stand and believed in God’s presence.
While others taunted, I picture him praying.
That is why he didn’t run. After the battle, Eleazar’s compatriots couldn’t get the sword out of his hand as he held it in a death grip. Eleazar means “God is helper,” and he trusted God and was greatly helped.
Bob and Clem remind me of Eleazar.
You couldn’t get the sword out of their hands. In retirement they continued to serve. Their hearts were all in with the mission of sharing Jesus.
At Bob’s service, many shared about being mentored, encouraged, and loved by him. Some told of living at his house for a time. At Clem’s service, when asked who had experienced him at their home fixing something, most hands rose. At both services, there was a focus on the resurrection and the reunion that will happen.
1 Corinthians 4:5 tells us something about that reunion that inspires me.
…At that time each will receive his praise from God.
To hear the words,
Well done thou good and faithful servant,
will totally eclipse Olympic medals or academy awards down here.
C.S. Lewis says it this way in the Problem of Pain,
“You have never had it. All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of it—tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. But if it should really become manifest—if there ever came an echo that did not die away but swelled into the sound itself—you would know it. Beyond all possibility of doubt you would say 'Here at last is the thing I was made for.'”