Living Our Farewell Address Day-By-Day
“For Christ suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; . . .”
(1 Peter 3: 18 NASB)
Earlier this week when I met with my students, I enjoyed the pleasure of sharing with my students my “Grandma Hall’s Living Farewell Address.” This writing was something I had written a couple of years ago when Grandma left this earth to go home to heaven. While my grandmother was not queen of any province, still she reigned high within my heart. This wonderful lady spoke of her faith in Almighty God. As she lived, this beautiful lady held many roles:
- Queen of her home where she lived with my grandfather
- Great-Grandmother,
- Grandmother to (well, I just don’t know how many, and one being Me)
- Great-aunt to so many nieces & nephews,
- Aunt to her seven brothers and sister’s children,
- Sister who served as a surrogate-mother to some of her siblings’ children,
- Mother to her own six children (four living and two deceased),
- Life-long wife and companion to my Grandpa, Harry,
- Daughter to Oscar Ransom and Laura Ellen, & from the way she lived her “Farewell Address,”
- Living as a Child of the King of Kings!
Last week, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II shook the world. This beautiful Queen spoke of her faith in Almighty God. This regal lady comprised numerous roles while she lived:
- Queen of England,
- Great-grandmother,
- Grandmother to (I believe twelve grandchildren),
- Great-aunt to many nieces & nephews,
- Aunt to Prince Phillip’s & to her sister Margaret’s children,
- Sister to Lady Margaret,
- Mother to her own children,
- Wife to her husband, Prince Phillip, & of course
- Daughter to her own king, the late King Henry VI & from the way she lived her “Farewell Address,”
- Living as a Child of the King of Kings!
We know for a fact that there was a time we were appointed life, a moment of our conception, a life-breath given to each of us. As we live-out our breaths allotted to us, we live our “Farewell Address” each day. When we arise from our slumber, we ought to thank Almighty God for another morning to arise to a new day. Then we walk throughout our day, making decisions, speaking words, creating action, reacting to what comes to us as we go, and living within our day. Finally, we reach the darkness of the day—the night—and we ought to thank Almighty God for another day lived, from dawn to dusk, one we can never live again, and one we can only look back upon and wonder: How did we do this day? Were we—
Loving—Enough?
Joyful—Enough?
Peaceful—Enough?
Patient—Enough?
Kind Enough?
Filled with Goodness—Enough?
Faithful—Enough?
Gentle Enough?
Self-Controlled—Enough?
Caring Enough?
Compassionate Enough?
An Obedient Child of the King of Kings Enough?
It is a TRUTH—Apart from the King of Kings, we are NEVER—ENOUGH!
Also TRUE—Unless we believe in God, accept His Son into our heart, and confess our sins, we will NEVER—SEE HEAVEN!
On March 3rd, my Grandma Hall’s extended family gathered around her bed in the care center.
On the night of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, her immediate & maybe extended family gathered around her bed and maybe outside her bedchamber at her Scotland castle.
Surrounded by family, those closest to them grieved their passing from this life as they entered eternity. Were we sad? Yes, for we would live separated from a grandmother we dearly loved. Were we overjoyed? Yes, for we knew we would see her again if we also believed & accepted the love of Christ within our hearts. In speaking with my students earlier this week, I said, “During the wee hours of March 3rd, those of us who surrounded Grandma Hall’s bed did not need to wonder where she was going because she Lived Her Farewell Address Day-By-Day, walking through her life, filled with faith in God! We knew she believed in God, & we knew she accepted Jesus Christ into her heart. We also believed how the blood of Jesus upon the cross & Jesus’ resurrection from the grave made the only way for Grandma Hall to go home to heaven.
Praise Christ Jesus, He came and He took her home that day.
Praise Christ Jesus, we mourned for a moment because we could raise our voices in JOY!
With Assurance, We Knew Where Grandma Hall Lives—Now That She Is Finally HOME!
The Apostle Peter proclaimed these words found within the Holy Word of God—
“For Christ suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; . . .”
(1 Peter 3: 18 NASB)
- Without a doubt—there is One & Only One—Living & True God!
- May we take seriously the “Living” of Our Farewell Address!
- As a child of the King of Kings, may we obediently live this day—Living as we are a child of the King!
- One day soon, we will leave this earth, and when we do, will others say (those who know us)—”There’s no need to wonder where we went because we Lived Our Farewell Address Day-By-Day, walking through our life, filled with faith in God!”
The Apostle Paul, writing one of his last two letters before his execution and death proclaimed these words also found within God’s Holy & Infallible Word—
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
(1 Timothy 1: 17 NASB)