Read

Matthew 28

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Matthew 28:19

Reflect

There’s something about sensing the end that clarifies someone’s thinking. Knowing that time is short makes their choice of words more exact and meaningful. It’s as though they realize the true value of time and words, and using both wisely becomes a major priority. I’ve seen the truth of that in my own life. In the last month of her life, my mother spend time writing farewell letters to each of her children, and even a letter to all of the grandchildren telling each of them why they were special and important. I still have mine and read it from time to time. The next to last line reads, “I have no worries about our reunion. I hope it’s decades away, but how joyous it will be!”

The true depth of feeling is evident in a farewell letter, and there are a number of them that have become famous throughout the years. Other than my mother’s letter, my favorite is one written near the start of the American Civil War by Sullivan Ballou. It was written just one week before the First Battle of Bull Run, which was fought 160 years ago on July 21, 1861. The battle took place near the town of Manassas, Virginia (it’s known in the South as the First Battle of Manassas), and it was a sign of how bloody and contentious the war would become. More than 850 soldiers were killed, another 2,600 were wounded and 1,200 were recorded as missing.

The war had scarcely begun, being declared just a few months prior. While there had been no major clashes between the Union and Confederacy, tensions were definitely high. Ballou, a major from Rhode Island who served in the Union army, sensed that his end might come when his unit finally did see action. With that understanding, he sat down and wrote a final letter to his wife, Sarah. In it, he extols the virtues of his cause and that he knows “how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government…” He also continually invokes the name of the Lord in various ways, but his biggest focus is on making sure that Sarah knows how much he loves her and their two sons.

I could write almost endlessly about all of the beautiful things Sullivan Ballou wrote to Sarah, but instead, I hope you’ll read the letter for yourself (or listen to a reading of the it). I will just include this gem: “…never forget how much I love you, nor that, when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.” Almost predictably, Sullivan Ballou did die in battle at Bull Run. His letter hadn’t yet been mailed but was delivered to his wife months later.

The Bible is also filled with a number of poignant farewells:

• Jacob: “When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.”
• Joseph: “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
• Moses: “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law.”
• David: “Bless the Lord your God.”
• Paul: “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’“

Last words are usually words to live by. So what were Jesus’ last words? Yes, there are the famed “seven last words of Christ from the cross,” and those are vitally important. But His last words to us came after his resurrection. He essentially told his followers (and us) to (a) make new disciples, (b) baptize the new believers and (c) teach them to follow the Lord’s commands (which means we need to be obeying and following them ourselves). And He promised us that we wouldn’t have to do any of this alone: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Again, last words are usually the most important ones a person has to offer. While most of us may never personally lead another person to Christ, we at least need to be a part of the effort. How are you doing at fulfilling the Great Commission? What role are you playing in making sure that the message of Christ is being spread to people who need to hear it? Take a little time today to think about those questions and to ensure that you’re paying attention to Jesus’ last words to us.

Reflection copyright © 2024 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.