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One important word
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In 1998 the American Film institute listed the 100 greatest movies of all time. At the top of the list was Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane."

 

In 2007 the list was re-released with several changes but "Kane" remained at the top of the list.

Since reading this, I have wanted to watch this 1941 classic and finally did this past weekend. The movie is a fictional account of Charles Foster Kane, but is believed to be based on the life of William Randolph Hearst. Kane is a wealthy newspaperman who dies in a lonely fortress. His dying word was simply, "Rosebud."

The movie is a series of flashbacks as a newsman tries to figure out the meaning of this dying word, as it may be the secret to Charles Foster Kane's life. In the end the newsman concludes, "Charles Kane did many things and you cannot sum up the meaning of a man's life in one word."

As I considered the value of the movie, I have been thinking about the newsman's statement. How do you sum up the meaning of a man's life?

One day we will all face the same fate as Kane; we will all leave this world, and upon death we will all face judgment.

Each one of us will go before an almighty God and our lives will be judged by one word.

On that day the only thing that will matter in our lives is what we did with the name of Jesus. Did we follow him? Did we obey him? Did we respond to him by faith?

On that day only the name of Jesus will matter. We will either enter into eternal bliss with him, or face forever the eternal wrath of God for our sin.

I pray that I would stay faithful to my savior Jesus and that my life might be focused on giving glory to one word, and that is the name of "Jesus."

Jason Dees is pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington. Learn more at http://www.fbctoday.net/