From time to time, when it’s appropriate and when there is time, I will ask someone at the end of life, with whom I am planning memorial service details, what message they would like me to share with the people who will gather to honor their memory. I remind them that this is their chance to say what they really want people to know, a last word for family and friends to take home with them and hold in their hearts.
One person, always the light-hearted one, said, “Tell them to turn off the ‘d–m’ lights.” Apparently that was a common phrase in the childhood and teenage years that had become a familiar and beloved term of endearment whenever family members said goodbye. Others, usually, took a more serious tone, if they had anything specific they wanted to say. They spoke of love, or regrets, or hopes. One wanted to apologize to a friend for a long ago hurt. I declined that one, suggesting instead they make a call right then and take care of that message themselves, personally. That outcome is still being written.
But, I have thought to myself now and then, “What if this was the last opportunity I ever had to leave something important for the people I’ve lived among and loved all these years; what would I leave with them? What would I say?” I suppose I could make you wait to find out, but, since we never really know how much time we have, I’ll go ahead and tell you now. Here’s the most important thing I would ever want you to know: “Jesus.”
Colleagues once offered a critique of a public worship service we did together as being “a bit too Christocentric” for their taste. What they meant was that I made the entire message on that occasion revolve around Jesus and the relationship the audience members could have with Him through faith. I didn’t do a lot of “how to be a good person and do nice things for others” stuff in that message. I spoke about Jesus, who He is, what He did, and the claim He as God has on all human lives.
I used to bristle at the thought of the critique those pastors offered that day and then I realized that that is exactly the impression I want people to have of my life, of my ministry, of everything about me. I want you to think, “His life revolved entirely around Jesus.” I want you to think, “He was pretty Christocentric,” and then I want you to wonder what there is about Jesus that would make someone build his or her entire life around someone who called Himself the Son of God.
The apostle Paul, describing his 18-month mission in the ancient city of Corinth declared, “I purposed to know nothing among you except Christ, and Him crucified.” One time God spoke to three men who were with Jesus on a mountain in Israel. God said, “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” That’s pretty Christocentric. Those are attitudes that live and breathe Jesus and His relevance to the lives of people.
I don’t much care whether you are Republican or Democrat. I don’t care what your skin tone is, whether you’re a local, or a transplant, what your personal views of human sexuality are. It doesn’t really matter to me whether you are rich or poor, what your educational accomplishments are, or whether you are a business owner or day laborer. What I care about more than anything else is whether you know who Jesus is, why He is important to you, and what you can do to know Him as your personal Savior and Friend.
You can find out all there is to know about Jesus in the Bible. Start in the New Testament, at the beginning, and just read, asking one question of everything you read: “What does this tell me about Jesus?” You’ll be amazed at the man revealed in the word. You can also stop me some time and say, “Okay, tell me what you know about Jesus.” I’d be happy to introduce you. It’s what being Christocentric is all about.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. Pastor Dale McIntire has served as pastor of the Cornerstone Community Church in Grand Marais since April of 1995.
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