We have often heard the saying, “you can’t take it with you when you die.” But I recently heard a story that would argue that it is possible to take it with you.
Years ago, Dr. Myles Monroe opened one of his messages by sharing that he had passed the wealthiest place on earth. He went on to explain that he had passed by a cemetery. He said that if we were to mine a cemetery as we mine for gold or silver, we would discover all kinds of things associated with wealth.
We would find ideas that were never given birth.
Visions that were never fulfilled.
Businesses that were never launched.
Books that were never written.
Ministries that were never started.
Dr. Monroe’s point was, Can you really not take it with you?
So many people have things inside of them placed there by God, and they never release them.
When we think about death, our ultimate goal is true freedom in God. But when we think about the life we live here on earth, there is one thing that stares back at us...
A little –
Most tombstones will display a birth date and a time of passing, and the distance between these two dates seems to be measured by the smallest of things…a -. That dash marks the time that was spent on earth.
So, we must ask ourselves, what will we do with our dash?
One passage of Scripture that can completely change our understanding of this question is found in John 19.
John 19:30 KJV "When Jesus…had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished…” bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
To give context to this verse, Jesus is hanging on the cross, his life on earth is ending, and he seems satisfied.
But how can a 33-year man truly be finished? That is not a long extension on the dash.
Jesus, at 33 years old, could say “it is finished” because he had nothing left to give. Jesus decided that regardless of pain and trial if it was in him, it was going to come out of him.
If God has placed something in you, let it come out of you! Do not let it die with you! You are never too young or too old to be used by God. Like Jesus, let us strive to die finished.
What will you do with your dash?
I invite you to view this message from Pastor Eric Gilbert in its entirety HERE:
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