Proverbs 10:7 records, "The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot." As we peruse the pages of Scripture, we find the thought of this proverb to be established. Time and again, the names of the righteous are recorded for our encouragement, and the names of the unrighteous are forgotten.

Throughout Scripture, there are memorials to the Lord's faithful. Some are extensive, others are small. Abraham's faith and works are expansively recorded in the book of Genesis, and reiterated elsewhere numerous times in the Bible. Conversely, the faithfulness of Jabez is only recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. However, in both cases, their names are preserved on account of their faithfulness, and serve as an encouragement to us. Of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, Jesus specifically said, "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." (Matthew 26:13). Of faithful Abel, the Hebrew writer penned, "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." (Hebrews 11:4). The names of the faithful remembered in Scripture go on and on: Noah, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, Ruth, David, Mordecai... and on and on.

But what of the wicked? David recorded, "You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their names forever and ever." (Ps 9:5). Where are the Perizzites? What has come of the Hivites? They have been blotted out forever and ever. Now certainly, the names of some wicked are recorded in Scripture, but how often are they remembered? Tell me, can you name even one of the wicked spies who accompanied Caleb and Joshua to spy on the land of Canaan? Though their names are recorded, they have still been blotted out (rotted), on account of their evil deeds. It is the memory of the righteous which is blessed, not the wicked.

Friend, we need to live in such a way that the memory of us will be blessed. Not that we are to make a name for ourselves, but rather, when we have served the Lord faithfully, we will be remembered by others for our faithful example. As I write, numerous names come to mind of men whom I had never met, but on account of their work and faith, as seen by others, their names are remembered. Still others come to mind, faithful saints who were not widely known among the brethren, but their lives continue to stand out in my memory, and others will know, on account of my witness.

But most importantly, let us be sure that our memory is found blessed to the Lord. He said, "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Revelation 3:5).