What Would You Like Your Last Words to Be?

A person’s last words often provide a glimpse into their character. They reveal what a person valued most. Some parting comments are thoughtful; others spontaneous; others surprising.

On March 14, 1883, the day Karl Marx died, his housekeeper came to him and said, "Tell me your last words, and I will write them down!" Marx replied, "Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough!"

• Groucho Marx’s last words were, "Die, my dear? Why, that’s the last thing I’ll do!"
• Nostradamus predicted the future correctly: "Tomorrow, I shall no longer be here."
• Pablo Picasso said, "Drink to me. Drink to my health. You know I can’t drink any more.
• The Roman emperor Julian, having attempted to reverse the official endorsement of Christianity by the Roman Empire, gave his last words: "You have won, O’ Galilean!"

The words of men of faith are far different.

When Stephen, who was being stoned to death, was dying, his last words were, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). Then Stephen said, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." Young Stephen—so like Jesus, who from Calvary said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

• John Wesley said, "The best of all is: God is with us!"
• D.L. Moody: "I see earth receding, and Heaven is opening. God is calling me."
• F.B. Meyer requested, "Read me something from the Bible—something brave and triumphant!"

Here are the last recorded words of Jesus: "Surely I am coming quickly" (Revelation 22). The apostle John, overwhelmed, offers a prayer: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" The word Amen means "So be it!" Or as Saint Paul said, "Let it be." (Saint Paul McCartney, that is.)

What would you like your last words to be?