J.A. Matteson
God watches the path of each person over their lifetime. When all is said and done one of two epitaph's will serve to define a persons life and could serve as a fitting tombstone marking, "[name] did evil in the sight of the LORD", or "[name] did what was right in the sight of the LORD" (1 Kings 14:22; 15:11). Justification is through faith where God's righteousness is imputed by grace. And the hallmark of regeneration by the Spirit is a disposition inclined toward obedience to the LORD, to be and to do those things that are pleasing in His sight, "To those...who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ...." (1 Pet. 1:1-2). Without faith it is impossible to please Him, and apart from the work of the Spirit faith is impossible. The epitaph upon our tombstone is ours to determine. If our hearts desire is to please the LORD in all things as evidenced by a life of obedience our epitaph will be the consumation of the Spirit's work within. For as the Apostle says, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Soli Deo Gloria
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