Famous Last Words

Famous last words. They mean something, don’t they? These words can convey what we held dearly in life, and what was most precious to us. 

They can be heart-breaking of course, and they can give us insight into what a person valued or their state of mind when they were dying. 

For example, in 1913 when Harriet Tubman was dying, her last words were “I go to prepare a place for you.” It is said Winston Churchill’s  last words were “I am bored  with  it  all.” In 1945, Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was put to death for his resistance to the Nazi  regime. Before he was executed, his last words were “This is the end for me, the beginning of life.” 

How about the famous last words of our Lord Jesus Christ : “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46

Last words can communicate great meaning. King David’s last words to Solomon, his son, carry great weight and are a good example for us today. David was concerned with his son’s spiritual life and his son’s relationship to the Lord. 

“When David’s time to die drew near; he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of the all the earth. Be strong and show yourself a man and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping His statutes, his commandments, his rules and his testimonies… That you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.” - 1 Kings 2:1

There is no greater advice or legacy a parent, grandparent or friend can leave a child in their life. For us today, it means we need to love God  with all of our hearts and allow his word to rule every aspect of our lives. 

We must devote ourselves to Him first, no matter the cost and above all else.  Above our careers, above our ambitions, above our personal  comforts, above our hopes and dreams for our futures or our children’s  futures. 

We are all devoted to something. We should devote ourselves to the Lord.  What would our family and friends say we are devoted to?  

David was a man after God’s own heart. David’s last words were final  instructions for his son, Solomon. David charged Solomon to walk in obedience to the Lord God. David’s charge to his son extends to us today. 

We can pray that the Lord will help us to be strong and observe His ways. We must walk in obedience to Him and pray the same for the children in our lives. We should pray that our children will desire to keep His decrees and commands, so that they may prosper in all that they do and wherever they go.