The Obituary

“A spokesperson advised today that the Pillsbury Doughboy has died due to repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in one of the largest funeral ceremonies in recent years. Dozens of celebrities turned out including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker and, the Hostess Twinkies. The graveside was piled high with flours, as long-time friend Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy describing Doughboy as "a man who never knew how much he was kneaded." The Doughboy rose quickly in show business but his later life was filled with many turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Still even as a crusty old man he was a roll model for millions. Doughboy was survived by his second wife, Play Dough. They have two children and one in the oven. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes. Doughboy will be missed by many who loved to poke fun at him.”

I received the preceding “obituary” recently. I know you will immediately recognize it as humor, but after I read it I began to think of what others might write following my death. It caused me to spend a few moments in self-examination. As always, I ended at the same place. Though I have been, and now am a sinner, the grace of God through Jesus Christ is more than sufficient to keep me. Toward the end of the Apostle Paul’s life, he wrote the following

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:8-14 ESV).

If we desire to reach the end of our lives with as few regrets as possible, having “run the race” with as much victory as Paul, the following practical suggestions will be helpful.

1. First, run with maximum effort. Paul said, he had focused “all his energies.” We ought to ask ourselves how much effort do we really exert when it comes to living our lives as God would have us live.

2. Second, run with the assurance of forgiveness. Paul forgot “the past” looked “forward to what lied ahead.” It is just another way of saying never let past failures or future fears rob you of present joy.

3. Third, run to the end. Paul said he strained to “reach the end of the race.” It is so easy to quit in the face of difficulty. There is an end to all of our races. There we will find the prize of eternal life in Christ. Just don’t quit running!