- Words are a powerful thing – form and inform our lives → Think about it. How would you express who you are without using words?
- Articulate your particular likes and dislikes
- Communicate your needs
- Convey the beliefs that are a fundamental part of your soul
- Now, there are plenty of people in the world who don’t have the ability to vocalize words for one reason or another, but even when we can’t speak aloud, we find ways to express ourselves – to get those words across.
- Sign language
- Pointing to letters/pictures on a board
- Through other medium (art, music, etc.)
- Part of the power of words = lasting nature → Long after we’re gone, our words live on.
- Hearts and minds of the people we love
- Writings we leave behind→ Even if we don’t write profusely, or even much at all, we all write something. We write lists. We write recipes. We write down appointments. We write in birthday cards for family and friends.
- Social media
- Extreme e.g. – Eterni Me: “Eterni.me collects almost everything that you create during your lifetime and processes this huge amount of information using complex Artificial Intelligence algorithms. Then it generates a virtual YOU, an avatar that emulates your personality and can interact with, and offer information and advice to your family and friends, even after you pass away.”[1]
- Brings up interesting point: last words → Very few things leave the enduring impression that last words do for those who hear them. And our Scripture readings this morning leave some pretty powerful last words ringing in our ears.
- Words of faith
- Words of love
- Words of peace/reconciliation/forgiveness
- And as we think about these words today, we’re going to interact with them in the context of the stories of other people’s last words.
- How can these words form and inform our faith?
- Brings up interesting point: last words → Very few things leave the enduring impression that last words do for those who hear them. And our Scripture readings this morning leave some pretty powerful last words ringing in our ears.
- Extreme e.g. – Eterni Me: “Eterni.me collects almost everything that you create during your lifetime and processes this huge amount of information using complex Artificial Intelligence algorithms. Then it generates a virtual YOU, an avatar that emulates your personality and can interact with, and offer information and advice to your family and friends, even after you pass away.”[1]
- First story: April 20, 1999. It’s not a day that many will forget, especially those who live in a relatively small suburb of Denver, a suburb called Columbine.
- 2 seniors, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, lay siege to their high school with guns and bombs → first highly-publicized mass school shooting
- Wounded 24 students
- Killed 12 classmates and 1 teacher
- Eventually took their own lives
- Among students who lost their lives: Rachel Scott[2]
- 1st victim – sitting out on the lawn eating lunch with friend
- According to her brother: “[Rachel] was mocked for her [Christian] faith, they knew her, they had a class with her.”
- Last moments, Harris asked Rachel, “You still believe in God?” → Rachel’s response, “You know I do” → Harris: “Well, go be with him.”
- Think of all the different things Rachel could have said. Think of all the words that might have resulted in a different outcome for her. Yet even in the face of fear, even in the face of certain death, Rachel chose to give voice to her faith. “You still believe in God?” “You know I do.”
- Words that continue to leave a lasting impression → Rachel’s Challenge – non-profit organization created by Rachel’s father/stepmother
- Mission: to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion[3] → words left behind that continue to inspire faith and action
- Words that continue to leave a lasting impression → Rachel’s Challenge – non-profit organization created by Rachel’s father/stepmother
- Scriptural connection – psalm
- Context: don’t know whether words were initially written as someone’s final testimony
- However, it’s certainly clear from the rest of the text that the person who uttered the words of this psalm was in distress.
- Called a “prayer for deliverance” in most bibles
- Speaks of enemies and failing strength
- v. 12: I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
- Numerous mentions of seeking God as a refuge
- However, it’s certainly clear from the rest of the text that the person who uttered the words of this psalm was in distress.
- Yet even in the face of fear, in the face of whatever evil the psalmist was facing, we hear words of faith: You are indeed my rock and my fortress … My times are in your hand[4] → final and resounding words of faith in God
- “You still believe in God?” … “You know I do.”
- Context: don’t know whether words were initially written as someone’s final testimony
- 2 seniors, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, lay siege to their high school with guns and bombs → first highly-publicized mass school shooting
- Second story: There are some events that are so seared into our brains that we can tell you exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard about them. November 22, 1963 – the assassination of President Kennedy … April 4, 1968 – the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. … September 11, 2001 – the day thousands of people were killed at the World Trade Centers in New York; the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and in Stonycreek Township in rural Pennsylvania.
- Where I was and what I was doing
- As with any news story that we witness as it unfolds, we all started out with just the most basic of facts: four planes, collapsed buildings, thousands of lives. But as time went on, more and more of the story surrounding the events began to come out.
- More facts
- More theories (some credible, some not)
- More stories of the people involved → And one of the story threads that emerged after 9/11 was all the phone calls made and the voicemails left by those who died that day.
- E.g. – phone call from Brian Sweeney[5]
- Former U.S. air force fighter pilot
- Passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 175 (hit 2nd tower)
- Tried to call his wife, Julie, at 8:59 a.m. – left a voicemail: “If things don’t go well, and it’s not looking good, I want you to know I absolutely love you.”
- Impact: 9:03 a.m.
- And Brian’s is one story of many – stories of people whose last words were words of love.
- E.g. – phone call from Brian Sweeney[5]
- Scriptural connection
- Psalm: Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.[6] → Call me crazy, but I hear love in an utterance like this. In a time of fear and uncertainty, the psalmist gives his or her most precious self – his or her very soul – to God.
- Later psalmist calls on God’s love for us: Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.[7]
- Reciprocation of God’s love for us: Into your hands I commit my spirit, O God, as you have committed your steadfast love to mine.
- Tied to other, very familiar last words – Jesus’ last words on the cross (according to Luke): Father, into your hand I commend my spirit.[8] → last words in the greatest act of love: self-sacrifice
- Also passage echoed in Stephen’s words in Acts – Stephen: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.[9] → Lord Jesus, receive my spirit as I have received your saving love from the cross.
- Later psalmist calls on God’s love for us: Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.[7]
- Psalm: Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.[6] → Call me crazy, but I hear love in an utterance like this. In a time of fear and uncertainty, the psalmist gives his or her most precious self – his or her very soul – to God.
- The words of the psalmist, Jesus’ last words, and Stephen’s last words are all words that convey a powerful love just like Brian’s last words for his wife: I absolutely love you.
- Final story: But of course, not all last words are spoken in times of tragedy. Sometimes people’s last words grace moments of tenderness, peace, and calm release.
- E.g. – life and legacy of Mattie J. T. Stepanek
- Suffered from rare form of muscular dystrophy
- Died just shy of turning 14 in 2004
- During his short but extraordinary life …
- Motivational speaker
- Lobbyist for peace, people with disabilities, and children with life-threatening conditions
- Wrote 7 books
- 6 “Heartsong” books(poetry)
- 1 book of peace essays
- Now, Mattie’s is a case in which we don’t know what his actual last words were, but the words that he left for us convey a peace and an open–mindedness that cannot help but inspire.
- E.g.: “Eternal Echoes”[10]
- Scriptural connection – peace for which Mattie advocated so enthusiastically is similar to call for reconciliation/peace that we hear from Stephen in Acts
- Stephen’s backstory: after thousands began being converted in Acts and Christian community was growing, the “original apostles” chose seven people to serve the growing community so they themselves could continue to “devote [themselves] to prayer and serving the word”[11] → Stephen = one of those seven (first deacons) → text: Stephen “did great signs and wonders” among the people in Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia[12] → those who heard didn’t understand and became angry àarrested Stephen → long speech to the council – not exactly endearing: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.”[13]
- So then we come to today’s passage – the part of the story in which the enraged council sentences Stephen to death, takes him outside the city, and stones him.
- Stephen calls out to Jesus before his death – words we already talked about (“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”)
- Actual last words (as recorded in Scripture): Lord, do not hold this sin against them.[14] → words that extend peace and reconciliation
- Peace to God on behalf of those who were participating in his death – asking God to forgive them
- Also extending peace to those whom he had recently insulted → Think about it. These are at least some of the same people that he just called “stiff-necked” and “uncircumcised in heart and ears.” And yet with his last words, he asks for forgiveness for them. Maybe one of them heard him. Maybe those last words – those words of peace and reconciliation – wormed their way into the hearts and minds of some of the people in the crowd. Maybe they took them home, mulled them over, and shared them with someone else … Who knows where those final words of peace and forgiveness ended up?
- So then we come to today’s passage – the part of the story in which the enraged council sentences Stephen to death, takes him outside the city, and stones him.
- Stephen’s backstory: after thousands began being converted in Acts and Christian community was growing, the “original apostles” chose seven people to serve the growing community so they themselves could continue to “devote [themselves] to prayer and serving the word”[11] → Stephen = one of those seven (first deacons) → text: Stephen “did great signs and wonders” among the people in Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia[12] → those who heard didn’t understand and became angry àarrested Stephen → long speech to the council – not exactly endearing: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.”[13]
- E.g. – life and legacy of Mattie J. T. Stepanek
- You see, words are powerful things. They surround us. They fill us up, and they empty us out. They enfold us, and they expose us. Each word we choose to use leaves an impression, but as followers of Jesus Christ, there is one Word that we always carry with us – the Eternal Word, the Living Word, God’s Word made flesh which dwells among us full of grace and truth.[15]
- Word that encourages us to share faith
- Word that encourages us to share love
- Word that encourages us to share peace
- And inspired by this Living Word that goes with us always, we don’t have to wait for that faith, that love, that peace to be our last words. They can be our every word. Amen.
[1] http://eterni.me
[2] Matt Ferner. “Craig Scott, Columbine Massacre Survivor, Revisits The High School And Remembers His Murdered Sister Rachel Scott.” From The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/craig-scott-columbine-mas_n_3054909.html. Posted: 04/10/2013, accessed: 05/16/2014.
[3] “FAQ: What is the mission of Rachel’s Challenge?” from Rachel’s Challenge: Start a Chain Reaction. http://www.rachelschallenge.org/big-picture/faqs//, accessed: 05/16/2014.
[4] Ps 31:3a, 15a.
[5] Philip Sherwell. “9/11: Voices from the doomed planes” in The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/september-11-attacks/8754395/911-Voices-from-the-doomed-placnes.html. Written: 09/10/2011, accessed: 05/16/2014.
[6] Ps 31:5.
[7] Ps 31:16.
[8] Ps 31:5; Lk 23:46.
[9] Acts 7:59.
[10] Mattie T. J. Stepanek. “Eternal Echoes” in Journey Through Heartsongs. (New York, NY: Hyperion Books, 2001), 7.
[11] Acts 6:4.
[12] Acts 6:8-9.
[13] Acts 7:51.
[14] Acts 7:60.
[15] Jn 1:14.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 