“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.” (Acts 13:22–23)
Ever wonder what people will say about you at your funeral? My mom told the story of a tombstone she encountered at an East Texas cemetery: “She was as good old mare.” Turns out, the horse that once pulled the local ice wagon was buried there. Here are some examples from Boot Hill: “Here lies Lester Moore. Four slugs from a forty-four. No Less No More.” Or “Here lies a man named Zeke. Second fastest draw in Cripple Creek.”
In Steven Covey’s famous book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, habit number two is “begin with the end in mind.” He encourages the reader to imagine what will be said at their funeral…then to live life in such a way as to make that a reality.
In Acts 13, the Apostle Paul is preaching a sermon at the synagogue in Antioch. He’s talking to Jews who know their history. In his message, he rehearses their common history starting with Exodus. As he builds a sermon that crescendos with Jesus, he pauses at King David.
David wasn’t just a legendary man, he left a legacy. When God spoke of him he didn’t say: “I found David to be a great warrior…or great leader…or even faithful shepherd.” He was all of those, of course, but God says: “David cared about what I cared about.” Now that is a legacy.
So, if you want an epitaph like that, you need to begin with the end in mind…if you want those words spoken of you at your eulogy, you need to care about what God cares about…you need to do all God wishes of you.
This week in my series, “David: After God’s Heart,” we’ll look at a classic example from David’s life as he brings the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.
Join us Sunday for my sermon Freedom! Let’s discuss how David discovered the freedom only God can give.
