Last Words
The last words have a deep meaning for
those who are left behind. Some say the
last words are the truest words that a person speaks. They become his legacy. His last words immortalize what his life’s
message contains for those left behind.
those who are left behind. Some say the
last words are the truest words that a person speaks. They become his legacy. His last words immortalize what his life’s
message contains for those left behind.
When my Mother
died, I sat beside her. Her lips were
silent, her last words were spoken by her faith and love for Jesus. I knew what she wanted to hear….God’s Word. She loved Psalm 37. I began there and continued through the Psalms
as she passed into the Presence of the Lord.
Now as I read Psalm 37, the words are like messages – last words – to me
from Mother. (Grandma Daisy). The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights
in every detail of their lives. Though
they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. (23-24)
died, I sat beside her. Her lips were
silent, her last words were spoken by her faith and love for Jesus. I knew what she wanted to hear….God’s Word. She loved Psalm 37. I began there and continued through the Psalms
as she passed into the Presence of the Lord.
Now as I read Psalm 37, the words are like messages – last words – to me
from Mother. (Grandma Daisy). The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights
in every detail of their lives. Though
they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. (23-24)
The last words become the message of a
lifetime of faith lived so that all can see.
“Actions speak louder than words…”
This is a truism that is captured every day as the example of the
faithful heart – a picture of obedience and humility.
lifetime of faith lived so that all can see.
“Actions speak louder than words…”
This is a truism that is captured every day as the example of the
faithful heart – a picture of obedience and humility.
Last Words. Do we ever
know how to time our last words, so that they are truly our last words? Can we cover a duplicitous life with pious
words at the last moment, and have them believed? When our tongue is silenced in death, our
lives still speak.
know how to time our last words, so that they are truly our last words? Can we cover a duplicitous life with pious
words at the last moment, and have them believed? When our tongue is silenced in death, our
lives still speak.
I think of
Apostle Paul, and wonder why God chose him to speak. He was born of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee
of Tarsus (present day southern Turkey) and mentored by Gamaliel. Did Paul have any idea as to the reason God
gifted him with strength, wisdom and endurance in his early life? He had knowledge of philosophy and
religion. He was able to debate learned
scholars of his time. Did Saul (Paul)
have second thoughts while persecuting Christians? Is it
any wonder that the disciples distrusted him after he condoned stoning Stephen?
It took a bright light and blindness to make Saul stop in his tracks. It was ‘cold turkey’ change of thinking from
the heart out, and a change of name. As
he groped in the darkness of being blind, did he realize the bright light of
the gospel that would shine in his life soon?
Apostle Paul, and wonder why God chose him to speak. He was born of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee
of Tarsus (present day southern Turkey) and mentored by Gamaliel. Did Paul have any idea as to the reason God
gifted him with strength, wisdom and endurance in his early life? He had knowledge of philosophy and
religion. He was able to debate learned
scholars of his time. Did Saul (Paul)
have second thoughts while persecuting Christians? Is it
any wonder that the disciples distrusted him after he condoned stoning Stephen?
It took a bright light and blindness to make Saul stop in his tracks. It was ‘cold turkey’ change of thinking from
the heart out, and a change of name. As
he groped in the darkness of being blind, did he realize the bright light of
the gospel that would shine in his life soon?
In Acts 9, we read, Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with
every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in
Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the
Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to
Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on
this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in
Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the
Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to
Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on
this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
Purpose of God for Paul: Acts 9:15:16 – But the
Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the
Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer
for my name’s sake.”
Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the
Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer
for my name’s sake.”
After
three missionary journeys, prison, persecution, floggings, shipwrecked three
times; he knew hunger, thirst and cold, Paul continued to preach Christ with
passionate commitment to God and Jesus Christ. He was imprisoned in Rome and there was
killed. II Corinthians 11:28 attests to
his commitment in spite of the hardships he endured; And,
apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
three missionary journeys, prison, persecution, floggings, shipwrecked three
times; he knew hunger, thirst and cold, Paul continued to preach Christ with
passionate commitment to God and Jesus Christ. He was imprisoned in Rome and there was
killed. II Corinthians 11:28 attests to
his commitment in spite of the hardships he endured; And,
apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
The early life Saul lived was erased by the life Paul
lived. This gives hope to all of us to
understand that we, too, can know Jesus and be changed. He is the author of almost half of the 27
books of the New Testament. He had the gift
of clear thinking and communication.
What would his last words be?
What could they be?
lived. This gives hope to all of us to
understand that we, too, can know Jesus and be changed. He is the author of almost half of the 27
books of the New Testament. He had the gift
of clear thinking and communication.
What would his last words be?
What could they be?
Beginning in I Corinthians we see his concern and devotion
to the followers of Jesus in every country to which he travelled. Paul does not mince words. He encourages the
faithful.
to the followers of Jesus in every country to which he travelled. Paul does not mince words. He encourages the
faithful.
* I, Paul, write this
greeting in my own hand.
If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be
cursed! Come, Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be
with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
I Corinthians 16:21-24
greeting in my own hand.
If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be
cursed! Come, Lord! The grace of the Lord Jesus be
with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
I Corinthians 16:21-24
* Finally, brothers and
sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be
of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will
be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send
their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be
of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will
be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send
their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
* From now on, let no
one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.
Amen. Galatians 6:17-18
one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.
Amen. Galatians 6:17-18
* Peace to the
brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying
love. Galatians 6:23-24
brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying
love. Galatians 6:23-24
* After this letter
has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the
Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell
Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in
the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting in
my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Colossians 4:16-18
has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the
Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell
Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in
the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting in
my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Colossians 4:16-18
* Dear
brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Amen. Galatians 6:18
brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Amen. Galatians 6:18
* Peace
be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May God’s grace be
eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:23-24
be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May God’s grace be
eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:23-24
* Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. Give my
greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The
brothers who are with me send you their greetings. And all
the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s
household. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit. Philippians 4:20-23
greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The
brothers who are with me send you their greetings. And all
the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s
household. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit. Philippians 4:20-23
Paul’s concern was
his brothers and sisters in Christ. His last words show the heart of a loving
Shepherd who knew his beloved and wanted to share Jesus Christ with them. What will our last words be? How will others remember us? Do our lives point to Jesus Christ?
his brothers and sisters in Christ. His last words show the heart of a loving
Shepherd who knew his beloved and wanted to share Jesus Christ with them. What will our last words be? How will others remember us? Do our lives point to Jesus Christ?
Comments? eacombs@att.net