My Last Words
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. (2 Samuel 23:1-2)
I believe leadership and legacy are synonymous with each other? You cannot have one without the other. I say such because of the impact of the last words. I mean one’s last words before transitioning or the last words to create one’s eulogy. The last words become more profound when life’s anticipation is ending. To put it another way, leaders establish their legacy before the last words are spoken allowing others to speak their legacy. You will lead a legacy of honesty only if you live a life of integrity.
If you have had the privilege of witnessing someone’s last words or last breath, it will significantly leave a lasting imprint. Even today, I am unable to forget the last words and the last breath that my father took before he passed away. His transition impacted my life tremendously. Throughout my life, I observed my father's leadership, and the legacy that others expressed to me after his death greatly impacted my decision to replicate his values in a unique way.
In 2 Samuel 23, we witness David’s last words. Yet, his last words were profound because his words were God’s words. God evaluated David’s life and was so pleased that He put His words on David’s tongue to utter to others. David’s life had many mistakes including adultery and murder. Yet, David’s heart was pure and at the end of his life, God looked at David’s heart instead of a record of dos and don’ts. Thus, David's last words included two simultaneous values - justice toward others and reverence toward God. These values are inseparable, even John reminds his reader, If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (I John 4:20)
Remember values represent your highest priorities, your deeply held beliefs, and your fundamental motivations. In the Kingdom of God, values are at the heart of what you do and what you stand for. It was my father's last words that influenced my decision to incorporate these values uniquely into my life:
1. Helping Others
2. Innovation
3. Optimism
4. Fitness
5. Legacy
The last words that are utter about you and the performance you do prior to must emanate from the heart. In this sense, God's words must become synonymous with your last words. What will your last words sound like when your legacy becomes relevant?
