Words We Can't Afford to Forget
Matthew 28:16–20
As a nurse, I’ve stood at the bedside of many people in their final hours. I’ve given medication, dressed wounds, held trembling hands, comforted grieving families—and on a few sacred occasions, had the privilege of leading someone to the Lord. One thing always strikes me: last words matter. They are never wasted on small talk about the weather or the price of eggs. They are urgent, weighty, and meant to be remembered.
I’ve heard things like:
“Please tell my sister I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt her.”
“Please call my son. I need to tell him I love him.”
“Would you read the Bible and pray with me? I know I have things to settle.”
Last words are often a call to action—a plea for us to do something important or to remember something vital.
Have you ever stopped to think about Jesus’ last words before He left this earth and ascended into heaven? What, above all, did He want us to remember? He didn’t repeat “Thou shalt not kill” or “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” He didn’t even highlight “Love one another” or “Forgive one another.”
Instead, He gave a command:
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
This wasn’t a casual suggestion—it was the Great Commission. It was His heart’s priority, the summary of His mission on earth, and the blueprint for ours. Without generations before us obeying this command, we wouldn’t know Him today.
If a dying friend or family member asked you to do something, would you shrug it off once you left the room? Of course not. And yet, how often do we walk out of church or set down our Bible and forget Christ’s final instructions?
We have heard from Jesus Himself what He wants us to do. We cannot dismiss it. We must act. I don’t want to meet Him someday and have to admit I ignored the very thing He told us to remember most.
So what can we do?
- Tell your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about Jesus.
- Invite someone to church.
- Pray—earnestly—for the unsaved, both those you know and those you don’t.
- Learn about and pray for your church’s mission partners.
- Give generously to missions, supporting pastors and workers on the front lines.
- Support Bible translators and church planters bringing God’s Word to places it’s never been.
We may not all be able to travel across oceans, but we can all take part in reaching the nations.
Jesus’ last words on earth weren’t small talk. They were—and still are—our marching orders. To ignore them is to disregard the heart of the One who gave everything for us. Let’s honor His final command. Let’s live like we’ve heard Him clearly. Let’s go.