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2 Timothy 4:6-8
Message No. 0737 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca
In high schools and tertiary institutions, it is a practice to appoint valedictorians, usually students with the highest academic scores, to give a summarized account of the experiences they and their classmates have had during their time in the institution. This is done at the closing ceremonies of the final years. Valedictorians do not only account for what they had seen or gone through in the school, they also advise their mates and the students coming behind them, ending their time in the school with fun and good memories.
Unfortunately, because not many people see their death coming, valedictory speeches, or eulogies, are mostly given after someone has died. This is the time when the family members and friends recount the fun times they have had with the person, and sometimes inadvertently, the not so fun times. Much as most cultures do not like to speak evil of the dead, some speeches still let out some not-so-good memories of people’s interactions with the dead at their funeral ceremonies.
There are good examples of valedictory speeches in the Bible, from which we can all learn. When Samuel was ‘swearing in’ the new king Saul, after Israel demanded a king to lead them, he gave one such speeches. As he saw this ceremony as a handing-over ceremony from being Israel’s judge, to the newly established kingdom, it was a good time for him to clear his name. in 1 Samuel chapter 12 verses 3-5, Samuel announced:
Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.” Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they answered, “He is witness.”
Though Israel demanded a king to lead them, which Samuel saw as their rejection of God’s leadership, he made sure to put them on record that he had not done anyone any wrong. Paul wrote in similar fashion when it was time for him to go. In 2 Timothy 4:6-8, he announced that he had fought the good fight of faith and had finished the race well, because a reward was waiting for him in heaven. Well, not everyone can announce as Samuel and Paul did in the world we live in today.
One of the men who was lucky enough to witness his own eulogy in the form of what people were saying about him when he was presumed dead, was a Swedish man called Alfred Nobel, who lived between 1833 and 1869. He was a chemist, an engineer, an inventor, and a businessman. He was credited for inventing dynamite and other explosives that are used in battles. While still alive, he was reported to have died in an apparent mistaken identity, as he was mistaken for someone else. The newspapers started writing about him and one of the things written was that he was the inventor of the most powerful weapon that was responsible for the mass killing of people around the world. Nobel was shocked to know that this was how the world perceived him, and this was how he would be remembered. So, he created the Nobel Prize for peace in an attempt to erase the negative perception. The piece prize is still being awarded till today.
The question for all of us is, how will we be remembered after our departure? What will our valedictories be? Will people sincerely speak well or evil about us, or will they grudgingly speak well in the public and pour out their minds to people in private. Will people see us as peace makers or as people who caused other people pain? Will they see us as humble, or will they say good riddance to that arrogant man or woman? Will our family and friends bless us, or will they curse us? If we were to give our own valedictory speech today, what would it contain?
The essence of these questions is not to scare anyone, but to serve as reflection for us all. They are meant to help us to sit down and consider our relationships with people and consider what we have done well and repent and apologize where necessary for what we have done wrong. They are to help us to assess our work in God’s vineyard and to get more involved in working for God as much as possible. The question to ask ourselves occasionally is, what would our valedictories be? Have you ever asked yourself?
PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
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