What if you were told you only had six months to live? What would you do? What would you tell your wife? Your children? Your friends? What advice would you offer? If the elders gave you an opportunity to speak to the church, what would be your final words?
Randy Pausch, a terminally ill computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was given that opportunity. On September 18, 2007, he stood in front of 400 people at the university to deliver his last lecture entitled, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” He spoke of the pancreatic cancer that would eventually claim his life. On that day he was youthful, vigorous and jovial. Ten months later on July 25, 2008, he died. But he knew that time was coming. That is why he gave this lecture. He said it was not for himself, or the audience but for his three young children.
Randy’s lecture became an internet sensation. He was interviewed by ABC’S Diane Sawyer, appeared on Oprah, and gave the commencement address to the 2008 graduating class at Carnegie Mellon. A few months prior to his death he released a book with the title The Last Lecture.” I read the book some time ago and found it to be a wonderful extension of his lecture on how to live life to the fullest.
The Last Lecture was on the New York Times best seller list in 2008 and continued into the summer of 2001 for 112 weeks. It has been translated into 48 languages and has sold more than 5 million copies in the United States. In the book he combines humor, inspiration and intelligence to share his wisdom and philosophy of life. “We cannot change the cards we are dealt,’ Randy says, “just how we play the hand.”
In the interview on Good Morning American, he told Diane Sawyer, “If I only had three words of advice it would be ‘tell the truth.’’ And if I had three more words, I would add ‘all the time.’” He observes that too many people don’t want hear the truth, either about themselves or about life. Randy challenged his students to face the truth about themselves, their lives, their dreams, and their potential.
His lecture has been seen by millions on the internet. And his book will be read by millions more. But his experience is one shared by us all. The Hebrew writer observed, “It is appointed to man once to die.” Sooner or later each of us will face the inevitable. It may be sudden. Or we may live to a ripe old age. It may be accidental. Or we may die as a result of disease. We may have advance notice like Randy Pausch. Or it may happen it a flash.
But make no mistake about it. We will all die. That’s the truth.
What if you had the opportunity to deliver a final speech? Last words? Parting advice? Could you with integrity say, “I have followed Jesus and He has made a difference in my life. The best life of all is the Christian life.” What would the truth be about you? About your life? About your destiny? Sobering thoughts, indeed.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Live it for the Lord.
—Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
yes, it is appointed man once to die…but wouldn’t it be WONDERFUL if the Lord were to come back first!? 🙂
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Yes Julie, it would!
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Ken, I looked up the book ‘The last lecture’ through Christianbook.com and came across the following review:
“I was deeply disappointed there was no mention or credit given to God about the strong and vibrant way Randy led his last days of life. Nowhere did he proclaim God’s peace or strength. I felt like it was a missed opportunity to share with others the truth about what God can really do in times that would be darkest and saddest for most people who are not believers.”
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Sandra, the reviewer is probably right. It wasn’t a relgious book of faith. And I wouldn’t recommend it as such. I simply used it as an example of his final words, and to make us think about that. From a strictly human and personal standpoint, however, it was a good read and caused one to think. I’m sure each person would filter it through their personal beliefs, and that you and I would filter it differently than a non-believer. But thanks for sharing that review. I appreciate it.
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Steve kept a journal in his last few months and in it he made a simple point that we could call advice. “Jesus Loves Me” kept going around in his head, especially the phrase “They are weak but He is strong!” When at death’s door, this gave him a lot of comfort to face those final days, but it reminds us how to live every day. “I am weak, but He is strong!”
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Thanks for sharing that, Aleta! A great credo to live by!
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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As Harvey Starling used to say at the end of every sermon, “Do all the good you can, for as many as you can, as often as you can, and do no harm at all.” (And he included teaching everyone about Jesus and His church).
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