"YES, I AM COMING SOON"

Jesus' last words. Well sort of. At least that's the last words in red that the Bible attributes to Him.

He had another set of last words from the gospels, "It is finished." (John 19:30).

And He had another set of last words after He was resurrected. "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:20)

Of course, no others would measure up. But I find it interesting to read about others' last words. Many of these come from a tract entitled, "Famous Last Words".

"to die will be an awfully big adventure." Sir James Barrie in Peter Pan.

"called home," penned by Emily Dickinson as she sat at her desk.

"what is the answer?" After not hearing an audible response, she continued, "then what is the question?" Gertrude Stein

"Don' let it end like this. Tell them I said something." Pancho Villa

"I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." George Washington

"And Jefferson still lives." John Adams (they both died on July 4; Jefferson died first)

"I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon." John Newton

"I've never felt better." Douglas Fairbanks

"I am about to--or I am going to--die; either expression is correct." Dominique Bouhours, French grammarian

As Jesus hung on the cross, He exclaimed, "Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46) Several others have used this verse as their dying words. While interesting, what's vitally important is not what one says before dying, but what decision one makes while living.

There's no reason to fear or wonder where you will spend eternity. It's all rather clear. You'll spend it with God or you'll be separated from Him. Take time right now to invite Jesus Christ into your life. Don't delay. We aren't guaranteed time to make peace with God, to plan our last words. It's simply the most important decision you'll ever make.