Psalm 31:1-5

“Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”  vs. 5

Last words have significance. There are many occasions where the dying words of people have been particularly memorable. The gospel writer Luke believed that they were important and faithfully reported the last words of both Jesus and Stephen, words which seem to have been a quotation from Psalm 31, “Into your hand I commit my spirit.”

In both instances the quote is appropriate, the sort of thing that any one of us would be proud to say with our dying breath. They reflect a certain readiness for whatever is coming, and more than that, a deep trust in God. For both Jesus and Stephen they indicate a sense that the mission to which they have been called is over, that there’s nothing more for them to do except bow their head, and breathe their last.

Of course it’s not that easy to have wonderful last words. A lot happens as life slips away and we really don’t have that much control over exactly when the ending will be. We might settle back on our bed, look around at our loved ones, say the wonderful last words we’ve rehearsed, close our eyes, and then discover a while later that we’ve only fallen asleep. Our last words are yet to come–and they might not be so memorable as we had hoped.

And that’s okay! Last words are not nearly so important as the words of love we’ve said for a lifetime!

Thought for the Day: What words are likely to be my last ones?