“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,” – Acts 20:20
If you knew this Sunday was the last time you were ever going to be in church, what would you say? What message would you leave? Would you tell funny stories? Tell some cute stories? Or you would choose your words carefully? What if you knew this was your last day on earth? What message would you leave? What would you pen down for those behind to read and forever remember you by? What exhortation, advice, or counsel would you give?
In the 20th chapter of Acts, Paul the Apostle was headed for Jerusalem and he knew that he would never again return to the church he had started in Ephesus. The verses sixteen through thirty-eight are an account of the message he left them with; his last in person sermon to the church he loved so dear. He didn’t need to launch into this long, “end of year review” sermon; simply told them what he had already told them. He was ready to die, because of the way he lived. He had been living with eternity in view and was ready to meet Christ if it came to it. Measuring our lives on the scales of eternity has a way of producing a benchmark of that which is most important. If you were given just a few moments and told to write a final message; I doubt you would waste words. I cannot imagine many would include in their last message that deal they closed, or the superb golf match they played. Would we care to speak of the car we drive, boat we own, or our extensive shoe collection? The frivolity of life would not find a place within the margins of your last message. It is far more likely that you would write about the things unseen, for against the backdrop of eternity that which we cannot see is that which is most important to us. I don’t know about you, but my letter would be filled with words of love, the love for God, my family, and my fellowman. The counsel plain and simple, read the scriptures and follow it; make sure that your soul is ready to meet judgment. Our Savior gave us the parable of the rich man who had so much, that he needed to tear down his barns and build greater. Then once his barns were big enough to hold all his wealth, he could then take his ease. Jesus said, “thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” How many spend night and day laying up treasures in their retirement accounts? Toiling night and day, spending their life’s breath building up a cushion to one day “take their ease.” How can we even be sure that we will live to see our day of ease? How much more to lay up our treasures in heaven, and be sure to see it? How much rather to gain a mansion which fadeth not away, instead of a mansion that will rot and decay? The sobering reality is that whatever you write on your last message will carry little weight unless a life backs it up.
When the Apostle Paul spoke those last words to the church, he spoke words that mirrored a life. In truth, the life we leave behind, is not just our last message but the only message. It is not transcribed on a page or drafted in nouns and verbs but written with our own decisions. Lord help us to examine ourselves and ask what we are currently writing?
