But He Died the Day Following

On the north wall of the nave of Grantham Parish Church is a rather grandiose eighteenth-century wall memorial. Its grandeur cannot hide the pitiable state of the deceased. Here was a Lord Chief Justice of King’s Bench, a man at the zenith of his legal career. It was he who developed the custom of judges ‘summing up’ cases before the jury’s retirement, a now essential aspect of English judicial proceedings. Furthermore, he purchased for £22,000 the nearby manor of Harrowby, and for which King George II was planning to elevate him to the peerage as Baron Harrowby. What a brilliant career! Yet, as the memorial stone sadly notes

but he died the Day following before the Patent could be made.

In other words, the day before his ennoblement, he expired, and lost everything: peerage, estate, career and everything. All worldly glories and honours will be snatched back by death, our last enemy. Only the emoluments, honours, rewards and compensations of heaven can be kept forever; only that which comes from King Jesus cannot be reclaimed, forfeited or lost.

Though you might have the best reputation at your work, of you it shall be said: but he died the Day following.

Though you might have the cutest grandchildren, of you it shall be said: but he died the Day following.

Though you might have the cleanest, best furnished house, of you it shall be said: but he died the Day following.

Though you might have a first-class honours degree, of you it shall be said: but he died the Day following.

Only what Christ gives- status, honour and dignity- will still be yours to enjoy beyond the day following.