The Last Word

 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with God’s people. Amen.” 

(Revelation 22:21, the last words of the Bible)

When we were in North Carolina, the city cemetery was about four blocks away from our house. It was more than the city cemetery – it was also the place where dozens of people took their daily walks every morning. For four years, I walked or jogged all the paved pathways winding through the cemetery. As a small-town cemetery, it had some beautiful natural features, sitting on a hill, a couple of scenic ponds, bordered by towering pine trees. I loved watching the hawk families hunt and nest in the trees, as well as the pileated woodpeckers (think Woody Woodpecker), kingbirds, bluebirds, cardinals, and a host of other birds flitting about. It was a very pleasant place to walk.

It’s an old cemetery, with many graves dating back to the early 19^th century. As time went on, I began to pay attention to the headstones and their designs. Some had inscriptions, some indicated military service, some had religious designs etched into the granite, and – thanks to modern computer-driven imaging – some had modern pictures carved into them. 

Some people will put a lot of thought into the headstone. Maybe a person told their loved ones their wishes regarding what to put on their headstone. Or maybe the headstone was designed by the survivors, as a way of honoring the deceased. Either way, headstones often convey some sort of message.

"Blessed Are the Pure in Heart"

I look at the headstone as an opportunity to speak a last word to any who pass by. Last words tend to be important. When someone knows that they are speaking their last words, they tend to focus on what is important to them. No small talk – just the stuff that really matters. 

I’m reminded that when Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples he knew that he wasn’t going to see them the next day. So he focused on what was really important – sharing the bread and the cup, and saying to them, “Do this in remembrance of me;” washing their feet, and saying, “Love one another as I have loved you;” praying aloud for them, “Father, may they be one, as you and I are one.”

When Jesus knew he only had a few hours left, he made every word matter.

If I have a headstone with my name on it, I want to make sure it conveys something that is important to me. I want my last words to speak of things that have stirred my heart with the goodness and mercy and grace of God. So – and this certainly will be no surprise for any of you who have known me for any period of time or who have been part of the churches I have served – I want my headstone to say something about love. And it has to come from the Bible, not something you found on the internet. 

I will leave the final details to my family, but here are a few suggestions:

Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” – John 15:12 (I figure if it is good enough to be among Jesus’ last words, it’s good enough for me. Besides, it’s also the verse reference that Carol and I have inscribed on our wedding rings).

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:17-19

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8

And recognizing that whoever arranges for the headstone may have to pay by the letter, here’s one that is a bit more succinct and to the point: “And now these three remain: Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Any of these scriptures will faithfully capture the last word I wish to speak.

When all is said and done, what will be the last word you speak?

Choose wisely, because it will be carved in stone.

Trusting God in the Chaos

I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right,
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.

(Psalm 119:75-77)

We confess, O Lord, that the days 

are troubling for us.

We are at a loss as to why 

this world is in such chaos.

We have no answer to the questions 

of the suffering of innocents.

We are dizzy with

  confusion,

    fear,

      worry.

We are in deep waters,

and the current is overwhelming.

But we do know that you are good,

and you are righteous,

and in all things you are just,

and you are faithful and true.

In humility we confess that we cannot plumb 

the depths of your mind,

nor can we fathom 

the limits of your providence.

We do not know the answers 

to the questions of “Why?”

But we do know you;

and your judgments are right.

In all things, you are moving the world 

toward our final redemption.

In your steadfast love and mercy,

we experience life. 

Abundant life.

And so we turn our hearts toward you, O God.

Where else will we turn?

Where else can we turn?

In your mercy, draw near to us,

to comfort us.

  With your compassion, heal us,

  and strengthen us.

    Through your word, instruct us,

    that we might be faithful.

      By your grace, save us,

      for your glory.

We do not understand 

the chaos we are experiencing.

But we trust you, for you are faithful.

And we turn to you:

Save us, Lord, 

according to your steadfast love.

Lead us beside still waters,

and give us rest.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

Grant Me the Grace of Self Control

Let the words of my mouth, 

  and the meditation of my heart,
     be acceptable in thy sight,
     O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

(Psalm 19:14, RSV)

O Lord my God,

grant unto me the grace of self-control, I pray.

My daily goal is to honor you, and glorify you;

and yet things I say, and even things I think,

get in the way of fulfilling my goal.

I want my words and my heart-thoughts – 

  especially my heart-thoughts – 

to be pleasing and acceptable to you.

You have clearly told me how necessary

it is for me – and all your people – 

to tame the tongue:

     “The tongue is a fire,

     a world of evil among the parts

     of the body” ⁺

And you have reminded me – 

and all your people – 

that it is from the heart that 

come the things that defile us.*

And so if my daily goal is to glorify you,

and to honor you,

then I must ask that you help me

to govern my heart and my mouth.

Fill me, I pray, with grace.

Let my speech be filled with words that

  convey your majesty,

    bring hope and comfort,

      offer compassion and mercy,

        build up, edify.

And let my every thought 

be motivated by the burning desire

  to love you with my whole being,

    and to love my neighbor as myself,

      and to love others as you have loved me.

O Lord my God,

grant unto me the grace -- the fruit of the Spirit --

of self-control, I pray.

Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditations of my heart,

be acceptable in your sight,

my rock and my redeemer.

Amen.

+James 3:6

* See Mark 7:15

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

Sunday Psalm

Note: As the observance of Lent does not technically include Sundays, instead of a prayer I will offer verses from the Psalter. 

Psalm 103:8, 10-12

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 
...
[God] does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far he removes our transgressions from us.