The scene is Shechem. The occasion
is Joshua's farewell address just prior to his death. All the tribes of
Israel are assembled to hear the aged Joshua, now 110, as he begins
recounting God's dealings with their great nation. Showing that God has
continually been with and helping them, he concludes, ``Now therefore fear
the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth...'' (Josh. 24:16).
The scene is Jerusalem. David is
nigh unto death as he gives this last charge to his son Solomon: ''...I go
the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies...''
(1 Kings 2:2, 3).
The scene is a Roman prison. Paul is
writing his last epistle. In giving his final charge to Timothy, he reminds
the young evangelist not to be shamed of the gospel (2 Tim. 1:8); to
hold the pattern of sound words (1:13); to suffer hardship as a
good soldier of Christ Jesus (2:3); to give diligence to present
himself approved unto God (2:15) and to persevere with urgency in
preaching the word (4:2) with the assurance that a crown of
righteousness awaits all the faithful (4:8).
Such are the words with which these
great men of God conclude the final chapter of their earthly existence. The
last words of any dying man are generally regarded as having special
significance, but the words of these men ought to be especially so
regarded--not so much because of being last words necessarily, but because
of who they were and what they said with those words.
Joshua, David and Paul were men who
had given most of their lives in consecrated service to the Lord. God had
used their tongues and talents extensively to serve His purposes among men.
Through experience and revelation they accumulated such wisdom as
experienced by few mortals. Joshua, for instance, knew how the lack of faith
could prevent one's entering into God's rest. David understood about
temptation and sin, and Paul himself had made the transition from
``chief of sinners'' to ambassador for Christ. As few others could, they
perceived how the will of God complements the greatest needs of man--so
their last words deserve an attentive hearing.
And what do we hear? Though
different in expression and separated by hundreds of years, we hear messages
that are strikingly similar. All emphatically recommend to others the same
course they have now finished. All emphasize serving the Lord.
Essentially, they are saying to all who shall come after them, ``Live for
the Lord!''; or, as another wise man put it, ``fear God and keep his
commandments.'' After all, that's what living is all about. There is a
lesson we must learn! Apart from truly reverencing God and walking in
His ways, man can have no meaningful existence here nor hope of life in the
hereafter. As those destined to go ``the way of all the earth,'' may the
last words of these godly men find priority in our lives.
