Those last words by Gary Rose

Last night we watched “New Amsterdam”, which is a hospital drama. What struck me about this particular show was its emphasis on a hospital’s care for the terminally ill in their last days. There was one patient in particular, a Chinese math professor, who was looking for the meaning of life. His search ended in seeing the grandness of a snowstorm in counting the snowflakes, which seemed meaningless to me. But, it does raise the question about our last moments on Earth, as does the picture above. The Bible also raises the question but in a different way….

2 Kings 20 ( World English Bible )

^[1] In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live.’” 

  ^[2]  Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yahweh, saying,  ^[3] “Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly.

  ^[4]  Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying,  ^[5] “Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day, you shall go up to Yahweh’s house. ^[6] I will add to your days fifteen years. (see also, Isaiah, chapters 38 and 39)

Now, it was a little depressing to see those people who were about to die, but reading Hezekiah’s plea and God’s response made up for it, because the Bible gives us hope. In his “last words” Hezekiah turned to God. Ever wonder what your last words will be? For Christians, they will most likely involve the appreciation of what God has done for them in this life and the certain hope of the blessings in the next!