A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1
The ancient apothecary was the precursor to the modern chemist; a trade which can be traced back to ancient Babylon. The business of the apothecary was to form compounds from various herbal, mineral, or animal substances which were claimed to alleviate disease. Like the modern pharmacist, the ancient apothecary also dispensed cosmetics and perfume (precious ointment).
For those unwilling to change their lifestyle, these artful merchants offered a quick fix. A certain drug may mask the symptoms of a particular disease. A fragrant compound may impart a pleasant aura to a stinking body. Makeup may conceal a sore on the skin. But these effects inevitably wear off. If the underlying cause of the disease, foul smell, or sore is not addressed, the sufferer is in no better condition than they were before the application.
Unlike an expensive cologne, the reputation we form in life does not evaporate. Every word spoken or deed done is stored in the memories of witnesses. On top of this, our actions are inscribed verbatim in the books of heaven. Artificially manufactured good deeds cannot effectively conceal an ugly character, nor erase the crimes catalogued in the records above. For example, the ‘philanthropy’ of the greedy bankers and war profiteers of modern history only increases the nauseating stench of their putrefying reputations.
The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. Proverbs 10:7
The fetid wake of the wicked lingers long after their funeral. In many cases, the passage of time reveals hidden crimes which upon the day of judgment will be disclosed before all. But the sins of those who sleep in Jesus are cast to the bottom of the sea. And so the memory of the justified one is ever fresh. In his death, there is more cause for celebration than there was at his birth. Indeed, death to a righteous man is but a small matter, as his last breath seals his good name in eternal victory.
Christopher Sparks