Shebna’s Grave 安身何处
Dexu Xia
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Revelation 14:13
Irish poet W. B. Yeats wanted to be buried “Under Ben Bulben,” a stately flat-topped mountain after which he titled one of his last poems. The poem’s final line is etched onto his gravestone: “Cast a cold eye / On life, on death. / Horseman, pass by!”
Much speculation has taken place over what this means. Perhaps it’s the poet’s acknowledgment of the reality of both life and death. Regardless, Yeats got his wish about where he was buried and what his gravestone would say. But the cold truth is that life goes on without us, indifferent to our departure.
During a dire time in Judah’s history, Shebna, a “palace administrator,” made a tomb for himself to ensure his legacy after death. But God, through His prophet Isaiah, told him, “Who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?” (Isaiah 22:16). The prophet told him, “[God] will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country. There you will die” (v. 18).
Shebna had missed the point. What matters isn’t where we’re buried; what matters is who we serve. Those who serve Jesus have this immeasurable comfort: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13). We serve a God who’s never indifferent to our “departure.” He anticipates our arrival and welcomes us home!
By: Tim Gustafson
What does your life say about who you're serving? How do you want to be remembered?
Father in heaven, please help me live my life anticipating the time I’ll be with You in eternity
在主里面而死的人有福了！—启示录14章13节
爱尔兰诗人叶慈（W. B. Yeats）希望自己死后能被葬在本布尔本山下，这是爱尔兰西部一座宏伟的平顶山。他晚年所写的一首诗就是《本布尔本山下》，如今他的墓碑上刻着那首诗的最后一句：“冷眼观生死，骑士策马行！”
对这句诗的意思，人们进行了很多猜测。我想，这或许是诗人对生死现实的默认。不管怎样，叶慈最终得偿所愿，被安葬在他选择的地方，墓碑上也刻着他所要的诗句。但事实是冷酷的，没有我们，世界依然运转，且对我们的离世漠不关心。
在犹大历史的一段悲惨时期，一位宫廷总管舍伯那为了能死后名垂后世，就为自己凿了坟墓。但上帝藉先知以赛亚对他说：“你在这里靠谁？竟敢在这里为自己凿坟墓，在高处为自己凿坟墓，在岩石中为自己挖安身之所！”（以赛亚书22章16节，和合本修订版）又说：“[上帝]必将你卷成一团，好像抛球一样抛向宽阔之地。⋯⋯你必死在那里。”（18节，同上）
舍伯那抓错了重点。其实我们葬在何处并不重要，重要的是我们事奉谁。那些事奉耶稣的人，享有这极大的安慰：“在主里面而死的人有福了！”（启示录14章13节）我们事奉的这位上帝，绝不会对我们的离世漠不关心。祂期待我们到祂那里，欢迎我们回家！作者： 葛庭墨
你的生命如何说明你正在事奉谁呢？
你希望别人将来如何记得你？
天父啊，请帮助我,带着与祢永远同住的期待，活出祢所喜悦的生命。