The Final Word

“Money can’t buy life.” These were the supposed last words of Bob Marley to his son, Ziggy, just before the famous Reggae artist died from cancer at the age of 36.

The last words written by John in Revelation are a tender benediction, a final blessing for his readers troubled by persecution and uncertainty. It’s easy to overlook their significance. The apostle Paul often ended his letters with similar words: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Romans 16:24; see also 1 Corinthians 16:23; Galatians 6:18).

These words are to be internalized as something more than a mere closing to a letter; they are the heart of the gospel. It is by God’s grace alone that sinful humans are saved. This divine kindness is freely offered to the poor and the rich. Grace opens our eyes to the heart of God, revealing His desire to redeem us from slavery to sin.

Indeed, grace led God to permit the great controversy between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, to play out as a witness to the universe to make it safe from sin forevermore. Grace shows, through the death of the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8), that Jesus can be fully trusted to guide the human family into eternity, for “just and true are [His] ways, O King of the saints!” (Revelation 15:3).

The beauty of grace does not invalidate God’s commandments; rather, it affirms and opens the way for us to live His law in every thought and action, mirroring the life of the Son of God so others may be drawn to His light. That is the message of Revelation: God has a people, the commandment-keeping redeemed, who cling to the faith of Jesus—and invite others to join us in experiencing His amazing grace.

Money can’t buy life; it can’t purchase a ticket to heaven. You will enter only by the grace of our Lord Jesus. Are you ready? Put your life in the hands of God today and you will be. Amen!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving Your life so that when all is done, I will cast my crown at Your feet and say, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

For Further Study: Romans 3:24; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Titus 2:11–13

Key Bible Texts

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:21 KJV)