Like everyone else, Jeannie Braca sat glued to the television on September 11, 2001, watching in disbelief. Unlike many other people in the United States, however, her horror went beyond shock and revulsion. It was pure personal grief. Her husband, Al, worked on the 105th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center, and she had heard nothing from him. She suspected the worst, and the worst was confirmed a week later when Al’s body was found in the rubble. 

Undoubtedly, Jeannie wondered what happened during her husband’s last moments. She must have been desperate to know what he experienced and how he processed those final, tense moments before the building collapsed. She did not have to wonder for long. As clean-up crews unpiled the rubble, reports trickled in from family members of people who worked on the 105th floor. Many shared that their lost loved one’s last call or final e-mail, mentioned that a man named “Al” was leading people in prayer. Jeannie was not surprised.

For years, she and Al had been praying for the salvation of these men and women. It was no secret (to his family) that he was unhappy with his job. The environment was pagan and out of touch with his Christian faith; and he struggled with being there. But Al refused to quit. He was convinced that God wanted him to stay there – to be a light in the darkness. And so (according to reports) when he realized that they were all hopelessly trapped in the building and would not escape, Al shared the Gospel with a group of 50 co-workers and led them in prayer. 

The story didn’t end there. A month after the collapse of the tower, an Operator with MCI called the Bracas family to tell them that Al had tried to get through to them. When he couldn’t, he asked her to deliver this message: “Tell them that I love them.” The Operator followed through, and that call, combined with the reports of Al’s “heroism” comforted the family greatly. 

“The last thing my Dad did involved the two things most important to him—God and his family,” his son Christopher told a writer for Focus on The Family. “He loved to lead people to Christ. That takes away a lot of the hurt and the pain.”

Ponder that last paragraph one more time. “The last thing my Dad did involved the two things most important to him.” Wow! What a powerful, purposeful statement! For me, it conjures up a question that you may not have considered – but it is one that’s worth a thoughtful pause: 

If you only had a short time remaining on planet Earth, how would you spend it? What would you say? What would you do? 

What if you could plan your last day; your last interactions; your last spoken words? Don’t you bet that Jesus your Savior and those whom you love would rate a special place in your final thoughts and words? 

To some degree, that question sets up the premise of the devotions we will be studying. They are from the 2013 “Last Words First” devotional book and focus on the final teachings of several different Bible teachers. Remember, the authors of Scripture were not just writers. They were prophets and teachers and kings and missionaries and ministers, and their lives were defined by teaching and mentoring and helping those around them to reconnect with God. In the Old Testament, these were the men who led and ministered to the Israelites. In the New Testament, they were the people who built and shaped the early Church. They poured their lives into Christ’s Gospel ministry. 

Now, imagine each of those men near the end of their lives on planet Earth, sitting down to write one last letter; one final instruction; one conclusive encouragement. 

There is Paul, sitting in a prison cell in Rome, exhorting Timothy to boldly continue the good work. 

There is Peter, looking back on the ups-and-downs of his life, giving final instructions to stand firm before Roman persecution swept over him. 

There is John, encouraging the Church in the face of a tidal wave of false teaching. 

There is James, the brother of Christ, grieving at the disconnect between what people professed to believe and how they behaved. 

These were their final words to the Church that they loved so much! Think of the passion and emotion with which they wrote. Think of the meaning attached to each word.

These devotions are about those words. In the coming days, we will examine their final letters; their parting words; their final instructions. The devotions are written to paint a picture of the six books that we are examining. Set aside time to read each day, and meditate on what you read during your prayer time. As you do, try to capture the big themes of each of these New Testament books. In fact, we want to challenge you to take this to a higher level – commit yourself to read through each of these New Testament books as you go through your devotions. In doing that, when we reach the conclusion, your Bible knowledge will have increased exponentially!

That is our goal, and we begin this journey with that end in mind. To get there, let us be still and listen to the final words of those that came before us. Imagine gathering around the bedside of a respected family member who is preparing to breathe his last breath. Imagine how you hang on those last words that escape his lips; how you ponder them for the rest of your life. Now, lean in and listen as Jesus teaches His Disciples one last time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Strain your ears and drink in Paul’s final exhortations to Titus and his final encouragement to Timothy. Take to heart the last teachings of Peter and James and John. Their time was short; their lives on Earth were waning; what did they want us to know before they departed?

Let’s find out. Join us as we turn to the back of the book, dig deeply into God’s Word, and discover why last words demand first priority.