The story of Christ’s death has been told many times. However, there are details about the last hours of our Lord’s life that you may not be aware of or have considered for some time.
When our time draws to a close, we will find ourselves reflecting on all that we have done and all that we have become.1 We will not be alone in our life’s reflection. When the record of any human life is set down, there will be three sets of eyes that will see it in a different light. There is the life as we see it, as others see it, and as God sees it.
If you were preparing to die today what would your legacy be? Who would you want to speak with and what would you want to say in those final moments? Shouldn’t our legacy reflect a life that was pleasing to God? Shouldn’t our words encourage loved ones to live in Christ? Throughout Scripture many men and women lived with this priority in mind. Their lives and dying words provide us with uplifting spiritual insight on what we should strive for during our time on earth.
At the tender age of twelve Solomon became the third king of Israel. Shortly after becoming king, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and granted him one request. Aware of his inexperience Solomon asked God for an understanding heart. God was pleased with this request and endowed Solomon with unsurpassed wisdom. During his reign people from every nation, including all the kings of the earth, came to Israel to hear Solomon’s wisdom.
With his superior intellect, Solomon set himself to studying the works of men and what it truly meant to live. At the end of his years, the wisest man to ever live summed up the meaning of life in these brief words: “Love God and keep his commandments: For this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”2
Thinking about your dying words does sound like a crazy idea, but why avoid the inevitable? Each of us knows there will come a point in life when there will be no more close calls, sicknesses or enemies. There will be no need to get up for work, pay the bills, or worry about kids. There will be no house to clean, dinner to prepare - no more tomorrows. All the motions that made up our life will come to an end. Our time in this temporary body will be up.
Would our first thought after our dying words be that of Isaiah when he had a vision of God on His Throne? “I am not pure enough to speak to God.”3 Or hopefully will our first spiritual breath be more like Paul’s when God gave him a vision of paradise, knowing God has prepared a special place for those who love Him.4
Let’s begin the search for our dying words with a spiritual mirror of the health of our souls. As we begin penning words in our mind to our life, to our dying words, let’s reflect on what we will call spiritual humility. Spiritual humility is what you think God thinks about you. Simply ask, “God, what do You think about me?” Ask Him, He promised He would answer all questions.5
None of us knows how or when we will die - nor do we want to know! The unabashed truth of the matter is that dying is a blessing; it is the fear of dying that causes much grief.
Bishop Ramirez in his ever loving candor disclosed at a mutual friend’s funeral a stiff lesson from his mom. There was some mourning being perpetuated at a funeral years ago when he was a priest, he mourned with those mourning. When he later spoke about the experience with his mother she encouraged her son with these words, “dying is a privilege.” What an amazing spiritual reality she unveiled.
In his writings, the Apostle Paul encouraged believers to share this same mentality about death: “We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord, but Paul concluded - God has work for me, a mission, to do here, now, on Earth.6
Do our works demonstrate our commitment to God? Have you ever introduced someone to the One who died for you, ‘Jesus Christ’? How would you like to save a soul from being blotted out in hell? Have you ever invited someone to be personally in Christ’s Presence at Sunday worship services? Jesus is there, He promised when two or more are gathered in My Name I Am there.7
Jesus completed His mission on a cross of unimaginable agony, our salvation. His dying words were “It is finished.” He declared His mission to the woman at the well: “My spiritual food is to do the Will of My Father, and to bring His work to completion.8 Are we Christ-like? Jesus commanded us to pickup our cross, our mission, and follow Him.9
Knowing that life has its challenges, Jesus promised all believers: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”10
Trusting that God will care for us through life’s journey is a matter of faith. Living our life looking forward to the reward of heaven is a matter of hope. Both faith and hope will die with you when you take your last breath. They are no longer necessary because you are immediately in God’s Presence. What remains is love.11
No one wants to live with regret. Each of us wants to look back on our lives and know that we did everything we could to please God and prepare our families for their personal spiritual journeys.
The best way to reflect and prepare for that final moment is to begin with the end in mind. In your prayer life, consider asking God directly: “God what do you think of the way I am living my life?” Many Biblical characters did just that. In the book of Psalms David exclaimed: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”12
Rumor has it that you can’t take anything with you when you die–that is not true. God’s Word is very clear that you take your good works, your words, your love and the sin that is not confessed and not repented for in contrition.13 It is all written in God’s Book of Life.14
If you have taken the test on spiritual humility then you will discover your dying words should be the words you live by, now, with your next breath.
We all have one and only one opportunity to serve God through Christ. This opportunity has an expiration date...it expires with your last breath.
Good News! We now have a facebook site, English & Spanish, for Q&As on God’s Word, the Bible and God’s Promises. Join us at www.facebook.com/GodsPromisesToYou.
1 This was expressed eloquently in Fulton Sheen's work, “Treasure in Clay”
2 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
3 Isaiah 6:1-8
4 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; 1 Corinthians 2:9
5 Matthew 7:7
6 2 Corinthians 5:8-10
7 Gospel of Matthew 18:20
8 Gospel of John 4:34
9 Gospel of Matthew 16:24
10 Gospel of Matthew 11:28-30
11 1 Corinthians 13
12 Psalm 16:11
13 Revelation 14:13; 19:8; Isaiah 43:25 (This is important)
14 Revelation 20:12
15 Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, our formative spiritual leader, Diocese of Las Cruces, NM.
