Epitath

While I was visiting my parents’ grave site recently, I couldn’t help but notice this nearby tombstone. It’s a very fascinating epitaph, to say the least. Looking on the opposite side of this monument, it’s dedicated to a man who succumbed before his 55th birthday. The guy’s facial likeness is even etched on the front side of that tombstone – it’s just amazing what some of these gravestone artists can do these days.

First and foremost, I’m sure this individual in question was viewed as a great man, at least in his circle of friends and relatives – I wouldn’t even attempt to argue otherwise in this case. After seeing his name, I’m fairly sure this individual was not a public figure or a public official around the area of this cemetery – and even if this guy was a public figure, I wouldn’t mention his real name in this particular blog post. On the same token, I have no desire whatsoever to do a Google search on this guy in some weird, vain attempt to discredit the epitaph stated on this tombstone. Having said all that, I’m fairly sure there were a number of people who were deeply hurt by this man’s passing. I’m also fairly sure that the people who attended this guy’s funeral service, probably heard the clergy who did the eulogy, say many of the same things written here on his monument.

Also, to be perfectly honest, I would rather someone shower me with compliments than rip me apart with insults. I’m only human (especially after I’m dead and gone), and my ego is probably not that much different than the guy buried underneath this monument. I hope and pray, that my friends and relatives will make similar type of bold, favorable comments about me after I pass away, as this guy’s inner circle stated about him on this tombstone. To claim otherwise, would make me a liar but there is another perspective here to consider.

My question here is, in the grand scheme of things, are any of the character traits mentioned here about this guy as important as, let’s say, accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, or maybe, doing God’s Will (the Bible) to the best of his ability? Specifically, I’ve got a real problem with the last paragraph of this epitaph from a Christian viewpoint:

“…God speed you. May you watch over us and pray for us that we may model your demeanor as a man.”

I would much rather pray for my sons, for example, to model Jesus Christ’s demeanor as a man versus somebody spiritually flawed like myself. If my relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., have any desire whatsoever for eternal life in Heaven, they’ve got to make Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior in their lives, and further strive to have Him as their own personal role model and standard bearer – please read, Romans 10:9-10.

If I were to have a tombstone, and sort of set it up before my passing, I think I would just go with the great verse of scripture from 2 Timothy 4:7 —

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Besides that, how many people – whether they visit my grave site, or visit someone else’s nearby tombstone – would be further interested in studying Bible scriptures after reading my epitaph? Even if it’s just one person, it would still be worth it.

As far as Jesus himself goes, His last words on the cross were, “It is Finished”, to indicate that He accomplished everything He needed to accomplish from then to the Second Coming of Christ.

Personally, I would just assume trade-in all possible epitaphs on my tombstone, and maybe be Cremated with my ashes poured in the Atlantic Ocean or perhaps be buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave to hear Jesus say to me, just before my Judgement Day, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”. Everything else is just superfluous and trivial as far as I’m concerned.