An Important Message

I recently wrote a short essay in response to a Torrey session I had. At the end of every session we are given what is called a “Pull Question” which is, basically, a question that the tutor (teacher) asks pertaining to the book or discussion. We are then required to write about a page long answer by “pulling” together thoughts and ideas from the text, class-discussion, and our own minds. I was recently given a really fun question on Phaedo, a work of Plato, that I actually looked forward to writing an answer to and, since I had such a fun time writing it, I decided to share it with you.

For a little bit of background information, Phaedo is a dialogue in which Phaedo, one of Plato's characters, tells of Socrates’ final hours on earth. Although there is no proof that this dialogue is actual history, it does seem to accurately mark the thoughts of Socrates (as if I would know them). In a nutshell, Socrates discusses the relationship of philosophy to the soul and what happens to the soul after death. He furthermore stresses that Socratic dialogue must continue and that Truth, above all, must be explored and discovered.

Pull Question:
What would you choose to discuss if you were in the same situation as Socrates? What would your dying words be?

My Response:
Plato’s Phaedo marks the dying words of Socrates; it provides the reader with the thoughts and ideas that were most important and valuable of all to Socrates. These words were, after all, the last words he could offer mankind. If I were to find myself in Socrates’ situation, I, too, would speak solely of those things that are of utmost importance to me. My dying words, then, would proclaim that the greatest possible and most imperative thing in all creation is the possession of a loving and intimate relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ.

According to Jesus, the first and greatest commandment is to, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37) God’s number one commandment to human beings is to love Him; He wants our love and affection directed towards Him above all else. As creatures and servants of His dominion, then, it is our task to fulfill this mission and to give to the Lord the love that He ultimately deserves. God as our Maker, we are to obey His every word and, thus, come to love Him above all else with everything we have.

Furthermore, because our God-given mission is to come to know Him, man cannot surely be complete unless he enters into this relationship. God has created man with an innate desire and instinct to have a relationship with something infinite, sovereign, perfect, and complete. That desire will not be satisfied unless man obediently invites that eternal being to come and fill that hole; as God is the one and only being capable of filling that hole, nothing less than a personal, devoted, and authentic relationship with Him will leave man whole, satisfied, and complete.

Lastly, it is only in and through an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus Christ that man can come to a knowledge and understanding of who God is and what He desires of us. Through the Bible, it has been made clear that Christians are to resemble Christ in word, deed, and thought (Luke 13:15, John 8:31…). Certainly, man cannot possibly know how to live Christ-like if he does not know Christ or what He is like. Clearly, then, it is imperative that man possesses a personal relationship with Jesus that He may be known and His commandments may be fulfilled.

Like Socrates, I too have an important message to impart to the world. My dying words would focus on the single-most fulfilling relationship possible with the infinite, sovereign, perfect, whole, and merciful Jesus Christ. No other possession or relationship can carry out God’s commands, fill man’s innate desires, or allow man to understand how to be a disciple. If this message is not known or shared, the world will surely be lost.