Old pictures can be as beautiful and interesting as they are valuable. Such is the unique painting by James Doyle Penrose entitled, The Last Chapter,” The famous painter completed this work in 1908, but it was finally presented to the British and Foreign Bible Society, and today hangs on the walls of that Society’s Headquarters at the Bible House.
No more fitting place could have been found for such a picture for it portrays the Venerable Bede, that great historian and translator of the Scriptures, during his last moments on earth. It shows the Bede completing his translation of John’s Gospel into the Anglo-Saxon language, with a boy scribe by his bedside writing from his dictation. This took place on Ascension Day, A.D. 735.
“It is finished now, dear master,” the boy is saying, as he lays down his pen, “It is finished now!”
But the Venerable Bede has run his course— he is dying! Raising his weary eyes to the little one before him, he exclaims “You say well, son, for it is finished,” He realizes that, having completed the final chapter of his book, he is now about to complete the last chapter of his life. However, the great scholar has no fears. He faces death with a smile. A very short time after he had spoken the above words, he died singing praises to God. What a noble end!
But oh, dear young friends, let us think on the words, “The Last Chapter!” Aren’t they solemn ones? Why, they would remind us that all of us without exception shall at some time finish the last chapter of our life’s book. No doubt none of us like to think about that. Of course we don’t. It is quite natural to shrink from that great enemy — DEATH! But why should it make us unwilling to prepare for death — to get right with God. Death is the direct result of sin. God declares in His Word, “The soul that sinneth, it shall DIE!” “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). Everyone who has not been “born again” — born twice — who has not life in Christ who laid down His life for sinners, in the sight of God is seen as dead — “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:11And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)). But everlasting life can be the portion of that same soul if he or she is willing to have it God’s way, that is by faith. Christ Himself is the life. He has died that we might live. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and now “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:361, as a present and eternal possession.
Surely the coming of the Lord Jesus for His own is drawing near. Then, dear reader, do trust Him as your own Saviour, and the last chapter of your life down here will bring you into the first chapter of that eternal fellowship with Himself, in “the land that is fairer than day.”
ML 02/26/1961