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You can hear it quite often: "He won that argument. He had the last word!" When this is said
in regard to a religious discussion, it is a sad statement. We should never enter into Bible
discussions to "box anyone's ears" or "show them how the cow eats the cabbage." Saving the souls
of people should be our motivation in all religious discussions and teaching. On the other hand,
the last words of people are generally very important and we should especially take notice
of them.
The last words of a dying parent, when the family has been called together are some of the most important and long remembered words of those loved ones. It is normally a time when a person has his last opportunity on earth to give admonition or warning to those left behind. In our family relationships, we look at it that way, and that is good as it should be. We should also be mindful of the last words which some of the great Bible people gave us in ages past in the spiritual realm. We should be especially careful in our reading and understanding of them. We must also recognize that they were using their last opportunities to impart valuable truths which would encourage and help stabilize our faith in living this life among those who are determined to make shipwreck of it. Consider some of the last words Peter gave us. The seven "Christian graces" are listed in his second epistle with this statement: "If these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But, he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:8-10). He warned us that God's word is true and His promises are sure. Even angels that sinned would see the wrath of God for their disobedience and transgressions. And in these last days, false teachers would do damage to the cause of Christ. Much of this would be because men love the wages of unrighteousness. When we see men today who are ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ in order to be "well spoken of", we see the importance of those last words of Peter. He had already spoken of those who would suffer persecutions for serving Christ, and should not be ashamed, but rather be diligent in serving the Lord. When Peter and John had been "physically beaten" and commanded to stop preaching this Jesus, they answered that it was better to obey God than man and they would keep right on preaching in the name of Christ and counted themselves "worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). Consider also some of Paul's last words. From his prison in Rome, he spoke of those who would be "lovers of pleasure" more than lovers of God, who had an appearance of godliness, but who denied God's power. He identified several men who had caused untold damage to "the faith." He appealed to Timothy to "watch" and endure afflictions which would surely come to those who were faithful in service to Christ. He equated living the Christian life with a "battle to be fought" and said he had fought a good fight himself (2 Tim. 2:3; 4:1-17). We need to desperately quit baptizing people by promising them a "bed of roses" with no problems in living for Christ. Paul said it like this: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). The boldness, courage, and dedication exhibited by the apostles is lacking in our modern age of "getting along" with everyone in the religious world, and being "well spoken of" by them. That seems to be much more important today than pleasing God. But remember, our Creator will have the last word with us: "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Tim. 1:8). "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (Mk. 8:38). |