One morning in 1888, Alfred B. Nobel, inventor of dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary in the newspaper. It seems that his brother had died, and a French reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother. Nobel was shocked and overwhelmed by what he read. His obituary described him as “the dynamite king, the industrialist who became rich from explosives.” To the world he was nothing more than “a merchant of death!”
Horrified by what he read in his obituary, Nobel resolved to change the course of his life, and to do something positive for society. He left his entire fortune to be awarded to individuals who have done the most for the benefit of humanity. The result was the Nobel Prize – five prizes awarded each year, the most notable of which is the Peace Prize.
A man well above eighty years of age said to me some years ago, “I get up each morning, go get my newspaper, check the obituary page, and if my name is not on it, I get on with what I had planned for the day.” Though you probably do not like to think about it, your obituary will one day appear in the newspaper. It will definitely happen! Of course you won’t be able to read it, but what if you could? What would it say? To know, ask yourself the following four questions:
What would it say about your priorities? Would it indicate that you thought your world revolved around yourself? British actor Michael Wilding was once asked if actors had any traits which set them apart from other human beings. “Without a doubt,” he replied, “You can pick out actors by the glazed look that comes into their eyes when the conversation wanders away from themselves.” Oscar Wilde, in a similar vein, said on one occasion to a friend, “Come over here and sit next to me; I’m dying to tell you all about myself.”
The primary goal in life for many people is to make lots of money. Jesus mentions just such a man in His teaching. A beggar named Lazarus, who lay on the street outside a rich man’s gate, would have loved to have the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. The rich man never even saw him. It is a mistake often made today: businessmen, for example, who spend so much time working that their family seldom sees them. There is nothing wrong with being very successful or with owning lots of wealth – as long as what you own doesn’t own you.
What would it say about your relationships? Who would it say are the important people in your life? How special to you are the members of your family? How faithful are you to your mate? How much time do you make in your schedule for your children? What kind of example do you set for them to follow? What is your attitude toward others? Is there any prejudice in your heart against any other person or group of persons? Is there any anger or ill will in your heart against anyone? There is an old proverb that says, “He who has a thousand friends has not a one to spare, but he who has one enemy will find him everywhere.”
What would it say you had invested in the lives of others? When your life on earth is over, the important question will not be, “How much wealth did you leave?” It will be, “What did you leave in the way of service or through giving that blessed others?” David Livingstone gave up a brilliant career in more than one field to spend his life in the depths of Africa as a missionary, and his legacy will live throughout eternity. The same is true of the great Roman Catholic saint, Mother Teresa, who spent her life serving the poor in India. This brings us to one more question.
Where would it say you will spend eternity? “Blessed (happy) are the dead who die in the Lord. Yes, says the Spirit, for their deeds will follow them” (Revelation 14:13). A businessman, while away on vacation, was reading his hometown newspaper. He was stunned to come across his own obituary, so he immediately called the editor on the phone. “I’m calling about the report of my death in today’s newspaper,” he exclaimed. “Yes sir!” the editor replied, “And from where are you calling?” It is a good question: “Where will you spend eternity?”
Are there things in your life that need changing? If so, you need to start changing them today. When your obituary does appear one day in the newspaper, no changes in your life will be possible.
The Paper Pulpit 
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