An Answer to Fatalism
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ”
Several years ago, my Wednesday Bible Study class discussed death. It was really uplifting. Joking aside, it was a meaningful discussion. There were many topics discussed, but at one point, we discussed whether or not to be cremated. Then, the discussion continued as to whether to have one's ashes scattered. We discussed genealogy and whether there is a need to have a gravestone for future generations to have a record of us.
As I reflect on the discussion, I am reminded that within a few generations, we will no longer be remembered. Joseph was one of the most powerful individuals in Egypt, the most powerful country at the time, and he was forgotten. So what makes us think we will be so special?
Most of us try not to think about how finite our lives are in our world. We live, we love, we suffer, we die. Even most Presidents of the United States, the most popular country in the history of the world, are barely remembered. Can you name all the Presidents in order? If you can, you are better than me. What makes you think you will be remembered beyond three or four generations?
I say this not to drive you back to reading Albert Camus and the other existentialists, or as he liked to be called, an absurdist. I am trying to articulate that apart from a vision and legacy of faith, all we have will wither and die, as described in James 1:11.
We have one child. She is married with two young terrors. Many things I cherish, like my guitars, will get sold off when I die. My library will be sold off and given away. My life’s stories will be forgotten. What the secular world values will whither and disappear. Apart from faith, life would be absurd and fatalistic.
Thankfully, we have a loving God who insists on not allowing our finite bodies to be the end of our story. God loves us so much that God provides an eternal relationship. While we will not be remembered for long on this earth, God will not forget to place us in the divine, eternal ledger. God will not forget us. Today, think about what is essential and what is simply finite. The finite withers, but the eternal, well, you know. By definition, we are already living in eternity; pray that God will help us live with this recognition. Affirming God’s infinite care means suffering loses its power, and we embrace joys as divine gifts along the eternal walk with God.
