The Last Time

A few months ago, I observed that my favourite chair in my office, a wingback, was looking tired, to say the least. I have owned this chair for thirty years and, about fifteen years ago, I had it reupholstered. It was time to do so again. When my newly upholstered chair was returned I thought, “This is probably the last time I will need to do this as a fulltime pastor at Brackenhurst.” Recently, Moses painted the church office building and we hired a company to paint the roofs on all the buildings. Since it also has been about fifteen years since it was last done I mused, “This will probably be the last time we do this (I hope!) while I am serving as pastor-teacher.” The same thought crossed my mind with the retiling of the fellowship hall and kitchen. And then, today, as I was coveting—er, I mean praying that we can purchase—the property next door, I realised that such a project will probably be the last major property purchase under my ministry. All of this is okay. This is how life rolls on and how ministries transition. I have no sense of lament over the inevitable; rather, I am hopeful that, by the grace of God, I will finish well. Brothers and sisters, there is coming a time when we will all do something for the last time. In the meantime let’s make the most of our time.

There is coming a time when we will all do something for the last time. In the meantime let’s make the most of our time.

I have read hundreds of books and typed a host of sermons and articles sitting in my favourite chair. I have counselled those soon to be married, grieved with the broken, and prayed as I have sat in my thirty-year-old chair. But one day I will get up from that chair, having turned my last page, having typed my last sentence, and having counselled my last word as pastor-teacher of BBC. One day, I will turn off the light switch in my office for the last time. Such reality, far from being a discouragement, actually serves as an encouragement to make the most of the time the Lord has given me.

With the time the Lord allots, I want to continue to read, but to do so with greater devotion to the Lord. I want to pray in that chair with a deeper commitment to communion with the Lord and with more fervency for the congregation. As I counsel church members, I want to do so more effectively pointing them to the Saviour. I want to wisely guide the next generation helping newly-weds to have a marriage that beautifully reflects Jesus Christ and his bride, the church. In the meantime, as I pray about an additional facility to aid the ministries of Brackenhurst Baptist Church I want to avoid the lame and short-sighted apathy of King Hezekiah who thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime” (Isaiah 39:8). How self-centred. Rather than thinking about how to best prepare the people of God for a future time, Hezekiah was seemingly obsessed with his own time.

Recently I have begun doing something, initiated by Allison van der Walt, that is bringing me a whole lot of joy: reading to the children of the church. On Sunday evenings, before the service, I read for about twenty minutes to the children. I am reading short biographical accounts of effective Christians who lived before our time whose lives continue to speak to us in our time. “Reading with Uncle Doug” is becoming a highlight of my Lord’s Day enjoyment. Really, it is hard to describe the joy this gives me. To gather with the children aiming to point them to Jesus Christ through the lives of those who have preceded me is a wonderful privilege.

I am mindful that these children will not always be children. One day, they will be the adult members of BBC who will be reading the gospel to their children, leading them to Christ. That thought thrills me! It should thrill you too. But more so, the prospect of the next generation(s) taking our place should motivate us to prepare them for the passing of the baton.

One day, you will perform some ministry in the church for the last time, and yet, because we are discipling the next generation, it will not be the last time for that ministry. Therefore, with this fruitful prospect before us, let us make the most of our time so that in God’s good time another generation will be even more faithful in their time.

The clock is ticking. Let’s make the most of our opportunities, seeking to please the Lord all the way through, until the last time.

One day, my chair will need to be discarded. But what has taken place there, what today is taking place here, will one day continue to take place: prayer and the ministry of the word. I am confident that, when my last time for pastoral ministry arrives, the Lord will have raised up someone else to do likewise in their time.

In closing, let me ask my fellow church members to consider how we are using our time. The clock is ticking. Let’s make the most of our opportunities, seeking to please the Lord all the way through, until the last time.

Doug