Last words of great men

Nothing is more reliable than a man's last words. Even a liar speaks the truth when dying. A dying man often reveals more than all his lifetime's great words and deeds. A man drops his mask when confronted by death. There have been many who, in their last moments, have had to admit that they had been building on sand. They were misled by an illusion; they followed a terrible lie. Aldous Huxley wrote in the foreword to his book: 'BRAVE NEW WORLD' that one should judge all things as seen from one's deathbed. The Bible says: 'Lord, teach us how short our life is so that we may become wise' (Psalm 90:12).

The Emperor Augustus: 'Have I ever played my part well? Then applaud, for the comedy is over!'

Henry VIII: 'Everything is gone - kingdom, body and soul!'

Cesare Borgia, the statesman, said: 'During the course of my life I have made provision for everything, but I forgot about death. Alas, I die unprepared.'

Cardinal Mazarin: 'Soul, what will become of thee?'

Thomas Hobbes, a British philosopher: 'I'm taking a fearful leap in the dark.'

David Hume, the atheist, cried: 'I'm in the flames!' His despair was an awful scene.

Voltaire, the famous cynic, had a terrible end. His nurse said: 'For all the wealth of Europe, I would not see another infidel die.'

Earl Montholon wrote about Napoleon: 'The Emperor is dying lonely and forsaken on this terrible rock. His death-struggle is awful.'

Goethe: 'More light!'

Heinrich Heine, the great cynic, later converted. In a postscript to his poems 'Romancero' (30. 9. 1851) he wrote: 'On one's deathbed one becomes very sensitive and wishes to make peace with God and the world... Poems which contained abuse against God I delivered to the flames. It is better to burn the verse than the writer. I have returned to God like the Prodigal Son after tending the pigs with the Hegelians for a long time. Theologically I must confess my conversion to a personal God.'

Nietzsche died out of his mind.

Sir Thomas Scott, former leader of the British House of Lords: 'Until now I thought there was no God or hell. Now I know there is both, and I am doomed.'

The daughter of Stalin, Swetlana Allilujewa, was called to the dying dictator in March 1953 at his dacha in Kunzewo. She said: 'My father's death was difficult and terrible.'

Churchill: 'What a fool I have been.'

Jean-Paul Sartre: 'I have failed.'

Can anyone really believe that these were pretending in their hour of death? Death is a terrible reality for those who die without peace with God. We try to ignore any thoughts about death. We do not want to be reminded of our end. But is that wise?

Voltaire, David Hume and others would surely have laughed or scoffed if during their lifetime they had been told that without Christ they would be eternally lost. Nevertheless, they had to realize and admit that the Bible is right in stating: 'It is appointed to men once to die, and after death comes judgement.' (Hebrews 9:27)

How are you going to die? Will it be too late for you as well? What will be your last words?

Dear reader, this is the truth whether you believe it or not: without Christ and the forgiveness of your sins through His blood you are lost. This means total and eternal damnation. If you think that death is the end of everything, you belong to the most deluded people on earth. There is only One who can save you: the Lord Jesus Christ.

'For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' (John 3:16)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayed for those who had crucified him: 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And before he died he cried in a loud voice: 'It is finished!' - 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' (Luke 24 and John 19)

Stephen, the first martyr, was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at his right hand.

While they were stoning him he prayed: 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' (Acts 7:59)

Martin Luther, the great reformer, prayed before his death: 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.'

Dwight L. Moody, the blessed evangelist, died gloriously: 'This is my coronation day. If this is death, it is sweet!'

Helmut J. Graf von Moltke wrote to his wife 24 hours before he was executed by the Nazis: 'How gracious is God to me! My heart is so full of thanks, there is no room for anything else.'

Oberst von Roenne wrote even at his place of execution (12. 10. 1944) on a piece of paper: 'In a few minutes I am going home to my Lord and Saviour. He is standing at my side giving me the security of my salvation.'

A Chinese communist, through whom many Christians had been executed, said to a pastor: 'I have seen many of you die. The Christians die in a different way. What is your secret?'

Do you want to know the secret? Say this prayer if you truly mean to come to Christ and if you are earnestly seeking peace with God: 'Lord Jesus, please forgive me all my guilt and sins. Forgive my rebellious self-righteous spirit. I thank You that you died for me and with your own blood paid the price for my sins. Please come into my life now. I open my heart and ask you from now on to be the Lord of my life. I thank you that you have heard and accepted me.'

When you pray such a prayer it is not the words that matter, but the attitude of your heart. Do you come as a truly repentant sinner?

Jesus said: 'He who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out.' He alone was able to rob death of its gruesome power.

If you wish, you can smile about what you have just read. You can try to erase it from your mind. But you will not escape death by doing so.

Listen to the words of King David about the brevity and vanity of life: 'Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days: let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreath; the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: he bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.' (Psalm 39:4-6)

You can only accept the warning of the prophet Amos when he says: 'Prepare to meet your God.' (Amos 4:12)