Halloween: Harmless Holiday or Holy Day?

“Trick or treat!” Many of us who never have doorbells rung or doors knocked on in the evening will experience just that on Oct. 31, which has turned into the secular holiday we know as Halloween.

 

Will this be one of your 
visitors Halloween night?

When we hear ‘Halloween,’ we might conjure up all manner of images. Little kids dressed up like Mickey or Minnie Mouse, Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol or PJ Masks characters. Or the traditional costumes of scary creatures like ghosts, goblins, witches – or even well-known politicians. All canvassing neighborhoods crying out, “Trick or treat!” and expecting to have bags they’re carrying filled with candy and other treats.

People have a variety of perspectives on this annual practice, but rarely do we associate it with a revered religious tradition. Before the day was co-opted by candy manufacturers and costume makers, it was observed as All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day. The word “hallow” means holy or sanctified, so All Hallows’ Eve translates to ‘the evening of all saints.’

 

In some Christian denominations, the term “saint” is reserved for a very elite group of people. This would include the apostles, some martyrs, and individuals who are reputed to have participated in some form of miracle. However, the biblical definition of the word isn’t nearly as narrow.

 

We find an Old Testament reference in the prophetic book of Daniel, which foretells events of ‘the last days’ before the return of the promised Messiah. It says, “until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7: 22).

 

The New Testament provides a number of references that make clear that when the Bible speaks of ‘saints,’ it’s not referring to those that commonly come to mind: Saint Peter, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Christopher, Saint Nicholas, and others. The word “saint” simply means those who are set apart, made holy as a result of being born again in Jesus Christ, and being conformed into His image day by day.

 

In Acts 9:32, for example, we read that “As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.” These were living, breathing men and women who were devoted followers of Christ. Several verses later, in a brief account of God using Peter to raise a woman named Tabitha from the dead, it says, “…[Peter] gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and the widows, he presented her alive” (Acts 9:41).

 

The apostle Paul addresses one of his New Testament epistles “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). Later in the same letter, concerning a woman named Phoebe, he writes, “I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me” (Romans 16:2). In effect, the apostle introduces one saint to a group of saints in another city.

 

Writing to believers in the city of Corinth, Paul cites one of the responsibilities the saints – God’s set apart ones – will have: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (1 Corinthians 6:2). Seems like those the Lord has set apart as His children one day will serve as His Supreme Court.

 

In another letter to the Corinthians Paul exhorts believers to be actively involved in acts of generosity. He says, “There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. For I know your eagerness to help…. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (2 Corinthians 9:1,12).

 

To Christ followers in ancient Ephesus, Paul repeatedly refers to saints – God’s people. He opens by greeting “the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). Then he expresses his fervent desire “that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:17-18).

 

Then he explains the reason God has given spiritual gifts to all who are called by His name: “to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

 

I don’t know about you, but I think this is so cool – to be called one of God’s saints – not on the basis of some liturgical body’s deliberations and decision, but simply because the Lord has chosen each of us as His followers, His people, His holy ones.

 

So this Halloween, while passing out candy and treats to children disguised in festive attire, try to reflect that you're doing so on All Hallows’ Eve, as one of God’s saints.

Being a Disciple Requires Discipline

“The problem with everyday life is it’s so daily.” I don’t know who said that originally, but I’ve thought it many times. Life seems easy during the exciting moments – special events, lavish parties, vacations, travel to exotic locations. But the mundane functions of daily living can be hard. 

 

Emerging bed in the morning, getting cleaned up, eating a quick breakfast (if you have time), going to work, carrying out responsibilities and trying to solve problems, heading home to decompress from the day’s demands, then going to bed to do it all over again in the morning. Indeed, everyday life is so daily!

 

The spiritual life is similar. We might have a ‘mountaintop experience’ from time to time, we might hear a sermon that inspires us or hear a song that stirs our heart, but the reality of living for Jesus Christ every day doesn’t ensure thrills every minute. It’s a matter of obedience, faithfulness – and discipline – in the midst of what’s mostly mundane.

 

I like how my favorite devotional writer, Oswald Chambers, expressed it: “[it requires] the supernatural grace of God to live 24 hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus…. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy in the ordinary streets, among ordinary people – and this is not learned in five minutes.”

 

What Chambers is talking about is discipline, a determination of heart and mind to pursue God no matter what distractions or obstacles we encounter. Jesus offered a succinct description of what this looks like: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). To “deny himself and take up his cross” means to die to oneself, to say no to anything and everything that could steer us off course in our walk with the Lord.

 

We’re in the middle of football season, and those of us who are fans spend considerable time watching games featuring our favorite teams. We admire the speed, athleticism and skill on display (hopefully more by our team than the other). But what stands out most – or should – is discipline.

 

Offensive linemen get into their set positions and remain still until the ball is hiked. If they don’t, the referees are quick to toss their yellow penalty flags. Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers all take their positions as well. Once Mr. QB has the ball, everyone moves as the called play dictates, seeking to move the ball toward the opponents’ goal line. The running back must go in the right direction and receivers must follow their prescribed routes. Without discipline, the play won’t succeed. 

 

However, much of the discipline football players exert goes unseen, taking place long before game day. Practice, practice, practice. Doing the same things over and over until they become second nature. Add to that the hours of physical training, lifting weights, meetings, memorizing the playbook. Daily drudgery, designed for success on the field.

 

This principle is vitally important for all who desire to be disciples of Jesus Christ – true followers, learners, and spiritual reproducers. Just before His ascension to heaven, Jesus commanded, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). And to make disciples, as He instructed, one must first be a disciple. And you can’t be a disciple without discipline.

 

Unlike football or other sports, following Jesus isn’t a pastime, or a casual pursuit. As the apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:28, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” These days we hear a lot of talk about one’s identity. For followers of Christ, He should be our identity.

 

For Paul, this was his passion, his motivation, the thing that drove him through the ups and downs of life – and he experienced many of both. Writing to believers in ancient Philippi, Paul expressed what we might consider his mission statement: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).

 

But Paul was quick to note that he hadn’t arrived, that his everyday goal of becoming more and more like Christ – and less and less like the person he was before encountering Him – was yet to be achieved. With honesty and humility, he stated: 

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it…. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

 

Whether we’ve been following Jesus for a week, a few months, a year, or many years, we should take Paul’s words to heart. We’re still ‘in process,’ and therefore we must press onward.

 

The psalmist wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Whatever the day brings, we can have confidence that it’s another day God has given to us. With discipline we can grow in our faith and revel in opportunities to serve the Lord and those He sends our way.  

We Might Not Be Suns, But We Can Be Moons

If you haven’t noticed the visual wonders all around us, you haven’t been looking. Because everywhere we look it seems there’s something else at which to marvel. From region to region, state to state, city to city, there are always spectacular places to visit, incredible vistas to enjoy.

The earth is filled with natural wonders, and I’ve had the opportunity to see some of them in person. The Grand Canyon stands out in my mind, along with the Rocky Mountains, beaches on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the tulip fields of Holland, and the rolling hills of the Tuscany region of Italy.

 

It’s nice being able to travel and ‘see the sights,’ but to enjoy wonders of our universe we need look no farther than up. The countless stars in the sky boggle the imagination. For us they are beyond numbering, but Psalm 147:4 tells us God does: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” The wonders of creation are all around us – and just over our heads.

 

One of those stars, the sun at the center of our own solar system, has enough splendor of its own. To me, there’s nothing more spectacular than a sunset or a glorious sunrise. Then there’s the moon, the earth’s satellite which has fascinated humankind through the centuries. Men have walked on the moon, but it’s still filled with mystery. Its phases, eclipses, nights when it seems larger and more brilliant than others. I wonder if we appreciate enough the grandeur on display in the sky above us.

 

In thinking about stars, our sun, and the moon, I’m reminded of exhortations we find in the Scriptures for all of God’s children. Did you know that to the unbelieving world around us we’re to shine like stars?

 

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, in a description of events concerning the end of times, it says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

 

This is not the only place where followers of Christ are described in this way. Writing to believers in ancient Philippi, the apostle Paul encouraged their faithfulness “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved, generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” (Philippians 2;15-16).

 

Reading these passages, it’s important to recognize we’re not told to be stars but to be like stars. There’s a great difference. The stars – our sun being one of them – generate their own light. The moon, however, does not. It merely reflects the light of the sun.

 

In a similar yet far more profound way, as we go about our daily lives – at work, at school, in our neighborhoods, as we travel – we’re to be similar to the moon, reflecting the light of One who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5).

 

Because of this, Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl, Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

 

As we spend time with Christ in reading and studying the Word of God, praying and seeking to abide in Him (John 15:7) so that we increasingly come to know Him and not just know about Him, His light will shine increasingly in us and through us, bringing much needed light to an ever-darkening world.

 

Has anyone ever asked you, “What’s different about you?” or commented, “I’ve noticed something different about you”? Could it be that without realizing it, they’re seeing the light of Christ beaming through you? If not, pray and ask the Lord that it will be so. That’s what He desires of us.

Making Sense Out of Seeming Senselessness

Our world can be amazing and awesome. At other times, however, it can be confusing, confounding, sometimes inconceivable. Watching the evening news, reading a newspaper (online or the old-fashioned paper variety), or following social media for more than a few minutes can have us scratching our heads. Every day society seems to be creating a new form of crazy.

 

But it’s not just the violence, natural disasters, global conflict and political chicanery. It’s the befuddling stuff that goes on in our own lives. An excited young couple has their hopes dashed when the baby they’ve been preparing for is stillborn. A young man who has eagerly responded to a call from God to become a preacher falls from a cliff, leaving him a paraplegic. After years of working with diligence and excellence, a man is laid off from his job, a victim of ‘downsizing.’ A young woman’s fiancé is killed while deployed in the Middle East only weeks before their wedding date.

 

The list could go on. We’ve all experienced times when life just doesn’t make sense. Maybe you’re going through such a time right now. We can read Bible promises like Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” But in the midst of a great hardship or devastating heartbreak, those words might seem empty. “How is God going to work good out of this?!” we might wonder or even ask aloud.

 

Recently I was reminded of a wonderful song, "Trust His Heart," first recorded by Babbie Mason in 2001. Its message resonates as strongly as it did then. A recurring refrain in the song states, “So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” 

 

In everyone’s life there are times we don’t understand, when we don’t see God’s plan in what’s happening, and when we can ‘t trace His hand – almost like He’s absent or indifferent. However, if we trust in the Scriptures and the assurances the Lord gives us through them, we know He hasn’t fallen asleep, gone on vacation or abandoned us.

 

Even in the midst of the most severe trial, we can cling to His promises, such as ones He gave through the prophet Jeremiah. For instance, in Jeremiah 29:11 He says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The outworking of this promise immediately follows: “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

 

For many of us the senseless, unthinkable assassination of Charlie Kirk remains on our minds. We might wonder how such a thing could have happened – how God could have allowed it to happen. This tragic act ranks high among the things that don’t make sense.

 

The final chapter of Kirk’s life, however, has yet to be written even though he’s no longer living among us. His non-profit, Turning Point USA, remains very active and possibly more visible than ever. In some respects, it may be more vibrant now than when he was touring college campuses, holding forums, and debating some of the most pressing social issues of the day.

 

Sometimes for a movement of God to gain momentum, the death of a prominent leader is necessary. Jesus being crucified on the cross is the ultimate example. As He Himself said, predicting His own death, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).

 

I’ve heard and read reports of numerous college campuses where evangelistic outreach meetings have attracted thousands of students, with many of them professing faith in Christ and even being baptized. I believe this is part of a much greater plan of God, with Kirk’s mission and vision being a small piece of what He’s doing across our nation and around the world.

 

We could cite countless other examples of how God has transformed seeming tragedy and great hardship into marvelous trophies of His love, grace and mercy. Hearing about those can encourage us as we go through our own trials and tribulations. 

It helps to remember what God has said about our incapacity to comprehend what He’s up to: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Trusting God’s heart, even when we don’t understand, can’t see His plan or trace His hand, will go a long way in enabling us to cling to hope in Him even when all seems hopeless. 

Temptation: Everyone’s Common Denominator

When you think about ‘temptation,’ what comes to mind? From the beginning of time, forbidden fruit has had great appeal. It started with Adam and Eve, who decided temptation wasn’t a bad idea and acted upon it. Nothing has changed since then. When children are small, telling them not to do something makes them want to do it all the more. Cookies in the pantry look very enticing, especially if mom or dad says, “No cookies before dinner.”

 

As we move through adolescence, into our teens and then adulthood, temptations may take different forms (the cookie jar remains tempting for many of us) but continue beckoning to us. In the Hollywood mindset, temptation can be a powerful tool. For the film or TV screenwriter, it can provide the basis for compelling story lines. For the film marketing department, temptation can attract many more viewers. After all, temptation is fun to dabble in, even in an imaginary, vicarious sense.

 

Poet, playwright and author Oscar Wilde famously said, “I can resist anything except temptation.” Have you ever felt that way? You’re having a good day, thinking and doing all the right things. Then temptation ambushes you, striking an area of weakness left unprotected.

 

Temptations come in all shapes and sizes. They can be something on your computer you know you shouldn’t be viewing – but you want to look at it anyway. Maybe it’s evening and you’re bored; after watching a parade of tempting food ads on TV, you find yourself staring into the refrigerator or the pantry, even though you’re really not hungry and had vowed to quit snacking to lose those excess pounds.

 

The workplace isn’t a refuge for escaping temptation either. If you’re in sales, it might be to promise more than you can deliver to close an important deal. Or you might be to make excuses for why you couldn’t finish a major project on time. You might find yourself wanting to spend more time with a coworker of the opposite sex than you should. Or you’re tempted to be creative with your expenses after a business trip.

 

Let’s face it. We’re all tempted, even though what tempts you might not be tempting for me. For instance, I’m never tempted to eat liver or Brussels sprouts – because I don’t like them. But crinkly French fries or a piece of cherry pie? That’s a different story. 

 

Being tempted is real and universal. The Bible even says so: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

That means when sorely tempted, we can’t claim the excuse the late comedian Flip Wilson’s “Geraldine” character often used: “The devil made me do it!” The Lord will provide the way of escape – if we’re willing to take it.

 

It’s also important to understand that temptation isn’t the same as sin. Temptation is being presented with an opportunity to sin. It becomes sin when, like Adam and Eve, we decide it’s too appealing to pass up. As the legendary preacher Charles H. Spurgeon wrote in one of his devotional messages, “There is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation.”

 

We have no greater example of this than Jesus Christ, who lived a life without ever sinning. That didn’t mean He never faced temptation. Matthew 4 recounts how the devil tempted Him three times, but each time Jesus relied on the powerful Word of God, refusing to submit to the temptations being presented.

 

This is good news, not only for affirming Christ’s purity and perfection, but also in informing us we can call on His strength in dealing with our own temptations. The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews states, “Because [Jesus] Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

 

Later the writer adds, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

 

When confronted with temptation, whether for the first time or the umpteenth time, we can’t complain, “But Lord, You don’t understand.” Because He does understand. As the passage above assures us, He was tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Because of that, He offers the mercy and grace we need to overcome whatever temptation we’re facing.

 

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to hang around situations that tempt us, just as it’s unwise to play with fire. If you struggle with alcohol, steer clear of pubs and open bars at weddings. If you’ve got a weight problem, stay away from all-you-can-eat buffets. But we argue, ‘God said He’ll provide a way out.’ Jesus addressed that while being tempted by Satan when He said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12). 

Years ago, a friend of mine who was a diabetic admitted he was tempted every time he drove past a popular donut shop. But he clung to the Lord’s promise to provide a way of escaping that temptation – and would continue driving straight rather than turning into the donut shop’s parking lot. 

Don’t Waste Your Life in the Pursuit of Seashells

Remember the old tongue twister, “She sells seashells by the seashore”? Recently I heard the story about a couple who apparently tried to live that out. They worked hard, saved diligently, and soon as they could started collecting Social Security, quit their jobs, sold their home and bought a beach house in Florida. Still in their early 60s, they determined to spend the rest of their life reveling in the sun – and collecting the most beautiful seashells they could find.

Some of us might be thinking, ‘Wow! That sounds like a pretty good idea to me.’ Might even seem like one version of the American dream: Leave the rat race of the workplace behind and start living a life of leisure while you’re still young enough to enjoy it.

 

Other similar scenarios might involve spending day after day on the golf course. Or sitting in a boat fishing. Or honing one’s tennis or pickleball skills. Or traveling across the United States, or around the world. Or just sitting on a front porch somewhere sipping iced tea and reading good books. 

 

There’s nothing wrong with any of those activities. Everyone’s entitled to enjoy their favorite pastimes. And after spending countless hours on the job, dealing with one frustration after another while trying to earn a reasonable living, aren’t we entitled to enjoy the fruits of our labors?

 

Yes, of course we are. But do we want the sum total of our lives to add up to a collection of seashells? Or golf scorecards? Tales about the biggest fish we caught? Doubles matches we won on the court? Or how many books we read?

 

I often think of the poem written by British missionary C.T. Studd, “Only One Life.” In it he states, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” When we stand before God one day – as the Bible teaches we all will – and He asks what we accomplished during our lives, do we want to proudly present a collection of seashells, or recount how many birdies we scored on the golf course?

 

This question isn’t just for those currently living in their twilight years. Because no matter how old we are, we’ve already started writing the biography of our life, figuratively if not literally. The story about our family, career, personal relationships, and how we’ve used the experiences and opportunities God presented to us, is well underway. What’s it saying so far – and what will the next chapters have to say?

 

In the Scriptures we read a lot about the importance of vision and mission. “Where there’s no vision, the people perish” says one translation of Proverbs 29:18. In light of this, a reasonable question might be, ‘What’s the vision I have for my life?’ Does it revolve around stuff we’ve accumulated, or pleasurable experiences? Or is our vision to leave a mark, even a legacy, that will endure long after we’re gone?

 

The best way to do this is to recognize that, as C.T. Studd declared in his poem, “only what’s done for Christ will last.” The apostle Paul had spent the first part of his adult life seeking to wipe out anyone who professed faith in Jesus Christ. However, he made a 180-degree turn after encountering the Lord on the road to Damascus, had his eyes opened – literally and figuratively – and devoted the rest of his life to helping people discover the saving power of Christ. His vision and mission shifted dramatically, from eradicate to evangelize.

 

He expressed this urgency to believers in ancient Colossae, urging them to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

 

Several verses later, perhaps for emphasis, Paul rephrased that charge: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

 

God has created a wondrous world for us to enjoy, overflowing with beauty in many forms. And there are innumerable hobbies from which to choose that can occupy our free hours. But Jesus told His disciples, “…I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). Are our diversions, our avocations, the primary focus of our lives, such that they will bear fruit that will last?

 

At least once each year retail establishments will conduct an inventory of what they have in their stores. Maybe a periodic personal inventory of our lives would be appropriate to see what we’re accumulating. Are we producing fruit that will last? (Another translation says, “fruit that won’t spoil.”) Or are we just collecting seashells?

After ‘Famous Last Words,’ What Will Be the First Words?

Not to seem morbid, but when your time comes, what do you think your final words will be? That’s a sobering thought, because most of us presume we’ll be speaking lots more words before that moment arrives. But it’s worth considering.

Through the centuries, the last words from famous people just before their death have been archived. Some reflect a final attempt at humor; others are encouraging; and some are heart-rending. Consider these examples:

On his deathbed, famed composer Beethoven is said to have uttered these words: “Friends applaud, the comedy is over.” Legendary actor Humphrey Bogart quipped, “I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis.” Comedian Groucho Marx said simply, “This is no way to live!” Reggae legend Bob Marley made this final observation: “Money can’t buy life.” And Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, muttered this last sentence: “I’m bored with it all.”

 

Nostradamus, the 16^th century prognosticator, is still studied for some of his predictions. At least one of them, on his death bed, was correct: “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” Marie Antoinette was the wife of King Louis XVI and the last queen before the French Revolution. On her way to the guillotine, she accidently stepped on her executioner’s foot. The last words anyone heard her say were, “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” (“Pardon me, sir.”)

 

Then there were those who clearly had their focus on what would happen after their final breath. Blues singer Bessie Smith stated, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.” And when Harriet Tubman was dying in 1913, with family gathered around her, she said, “Give my love to the churches. Tell the women to stand firm. I go to prepare a place for you.” 

 

Apparently with some regret Leonardo da Vinci, the renowned artist, scientist and engineer, declared, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” The sister of Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur, inventor and co-founder of Apple Inc., reported his final words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” No one knows what that meant.

 

Recounting famous last words is interesting, but what matters exponentially more are the first words we’ll hear after our lives have ended. What will they be? The Bible gives us a good idea of what we’ll hear – or at least something similar. They should either excite us – or terrify us.

 

Jesus Christ told a parable about an owner who had entrusted three servants with his property while he was away on a long journey. He expected them to properly manage what they had been given. Upon his return, he found two of the three servants had demonstrated good stewardship and were commended. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21,23).

 

We often hear these words spoken of stalwart followers of Christ when they pass away. They’re not reserved only for ‘super-Christians,’ but also for all who have been faithful in whatever circumstances God placed them, using the gifts and opportunities He provided for His glory.

 

However, not everyone who dies and stands before the Lord will hear words like those. Jesus warned that just because someone says the right things, that doesn’t mean he or she will be welcomed into the heavenly realm. He declared:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

 

How can we know for certain which phrase we’ll hear? What if being ‘religious’ and doing some good deeds isn’t enough? The Scriptures say we can definitely know what to expect. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). But exactly how can we know?

 

The Bible addresses this in many ways, but here are three of them:

Do a self-examination. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you – unless you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We could become hopelessly introspective, but it’s not a bad thing once in a while to ask ourselves what we truly believe – and why.

Are we living out what we claim to believe? James 1:22-25 admonishes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks at the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” One evidence of saving faith is the desire to put it into action.

For whom are we doing what we’re doing? In performing good works, are we doing them to be commended by others, or are we doing them for God’s glory and in appreciation for all He’s done for us? “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

 

It's sobering to realize that when our earthly lives end, the first words we hear will either be along the lines of, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”, or “Depart from Me, I never knew you!” Which will we hear?