Famous Last Words

Does anyone actually plan their “final words”? Celebrities old and young have had their Last Words recorded and sometimes even memorized. My Dad, a “Casablanca” fan, said, “So long, Joe; don’t take any wooden nickels.” Church-goers this weekend will be observing “Christ the King/Reign of Christ”, and will hear some last words which are meant to enlighten. We put aside our anxiety about Coming Days and prepare for a time of Thanksgiving, followed directly by anticipation of the coming Christ. Yet the systems of earth still groan around us, and we have to acknowledge that even though Christ IS in charge, many will go about creating their own political & military kingdoms…

King David was about to close the book on his life. He was considered a “good” king because he had united Israel: we’ve conveniently forgotten his ethical lapses. Nevertheless, in II SAMUEL 23:1-7, we read “the one who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning…” Last words remember not only that the Old is Gone, but anticipates that the New (morning) will Soon be Here! David spoke with the idea that his successor would also be venerated by the people; a New Day was at hand… As the Church year “ends”, we look forward with anticipation to that which God is doing next, even coming in person to demonstrate what could/should rule our lives.

The book of REVELATION is the scriptural “final word”, purportedly dealing with Last Things. Our passage today is 1:4b-8, which sets the tone for that which comes after by announcing the coming of Christ “in the clouds”. This is not to be a joyous occasion for the “tribes of the earth”, with their attempts at being No. 1–on the Last Day, only “the ruler of the kings of the earth” remains in power, and the plans of the world are scuttled. The Believing Church uses the imagery of the political scene for now, although we expect a much different equality and division of worth.

Pontius Pilate summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” The dialogue in JOHN 18:33-37 contrasts the person of Jesus with the perceived power structure then in operation. Through the ages, these words continue to separate and claim a new creation, announcing an alternative understanding of the power system in vogue. We only need to observe our current broken systems of “defense” spending and overcrowded tenements, of fancy restaurants and children going hungry, of country clubs and Native American reservations to realize that changes have to be made…

“The King” has the final word in our lives. Once upon a time, the King was in charge of everything; his word was law. God in wisdom sent a King to be an alternative, to announce a New Day in which we subjects need not cringe from a capricious government but rather enjoy a freedom of style as forgiven ones.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

I try to record how scripture to be read on the upcoming weekend encounters us, every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com