My family is in the middle of a move, so we are finding ourselves doing things and going places and saying, “This will be the last time we will ever do this.”
* We went to the beach for the last time.
* I preached for the last time.
* I wrote my last bulletin article. We visited our neighbors for the last time.
* We ate with friends for the last time.
We are hoping to do several things one more time.
* We would like to make it to our favorite Mexican restaurant one more time.
* We would like to visit our favorite park one more time.
* We want to take a walk through our neighborhood one more time.
* If we have a chance we will probably stop by our favorite ice cream shop for a milk shake one more time.
* I would like to play a round of golf with my friends one more time.
Add to all the things already mentioned, there are all the people we are seeing for what may be the last time.
When we do something for what may be the last time, we tend to view it differently. We want to make a mental photograph that will never fade. We want to listen to every word. We want to hold on to every image and every comment and every relationship. Events that never really seemed significant, suddenly take on a whole new meaning. We fear that food will never taste so good, skies will never be so blue, winds will never be as fresh, or love will be as real.
I wonder if Jesus felt any of those things as He approached the cross. Do you suppose that when He walked through His streets a few days before His death that He spoke to people and thought, “I will never do this again.” (Heb 10:10) Or, do you suppose that when He visited the synagogue He thought about how He might be doing it for the last time? (Heb 9:12) I like to imagine that He did think those thoughts and feel those things, but I really don’t know for sure one way or the other.
I do know one thing, for sure: When Jesus finished His walk through the streets, reached the place of the skull, breathed His last breath on the cross, and came out of the grave three days later, His message for us was: “This is the last time anyone will ever need to be afraid of death.(1 Cor. 15:54) This is the last time you will need to mourn without hope at the death of a believer (Matt. 10:8). From now on you can rest in peace because of the Sacrifice that was given for the last time.” (Heb. 9:26)
Doing things for the last time is an emotionally draining and a physically tiring experience. On the other hand, unless we do some things for the last time, then we cannot do other things for the first time. Since many have been afraid of death for the last time, some can approach life with joy, hope, and excitement — maybe for the first time. Because we have said “Good-bye!” to sin and death (John 8:51) for the last time means we can say hello to newness of life for the first time (2 Cor. 5:17).
As the this family goes through the process of moving to a new location, we are doing many things for the last time, and the tears flow. But, in a few days, we will begin doing many other things for the first time, and the tears will flow.
Enjoy the day, even if it is for the last time, and make the most of it.
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,….”
1 Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
...Ofthestory 