Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

I have recently reflected on the words of David Livingstone, the great missionary-explorer when he faced difficult circumstances.  He has written in the front of his Bible these words: “It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s an end to it.” He wrote in his journal the following:                                                                                              

January 14, 1856. Evening. Felt much turmoil of spirit in prospect of having all my plans for the welfare of this great region and this teeming population knocked on the head by savages tomorrow. But I read that Jesus said: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” It is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honor, so there’s an end of it! I will not cross furtively tonight as I intended. Should such a man as I flee? Nay, verily, I shall take observations for latitude and longitude to-night, though they may be the last. I feel quite calm now, thank God! The words in italics are underlined in the journal, and they were underlined in his heart. Later in the same year, he pays his first visit to the Homeland. Honors are everywhere heaped upon him. The University of Glasgow confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. On such occasions the recipient of the honor is usually subjected to some banter at the hands of the students. But when Livingstone rises, bearing upon his person the marks of his struggles and sufferings in darkest Africa, he is received in reverential silence. He is gaunt and haggard as a result of his long exposure to the tropical sun. On nearly thirty occasions he has been laid low by the fevers that steam from the inland swamps, and these severe illnesses have left their mark. His left arm, crushed by a lion, hangs helplessly at his side. A hush falls upon the great assembly as he announces his resolve to return to the land for which he has already endured so much. ‘But I return,’ he says, ‘without misgiving and with great gladness. For would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude towards me was always uncertain and often hostile? It was this: ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world!’ On those words I staked everything, and they never failed!’ He did return to Africa but eventually, however, his frail body failed. His native co-laborers found him slumped over the cot where the previous night he had knelt to pray. His well-worn New Testament was open to the same passage he had quoted to the university audience—Matthew 28:20, and in the margin beside the text, in his own hand was this notation: “The words of a gentleman.” That phrase “the words of a gentleman” means little to us in the context of the 21st century, but in his day when a gentleman gave his word, it was his honor at stake.  The words of Jesus in Matthew 28:20 were Livingstone’s life verse—one he literally staked his future and wellbeing upon. When Jesus sent His disciples out, He gave them this promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Literally, the word always means “all the days.” That takes into account all our various activities, the good and bad circumstances surrounding us, the storms and Covid-19. Our Lord is present with us no matter what each day brings. No matter what happens to us, our Lord is walking beside us, loving us, strengthening us and guiding us. We can bear up in any setting and circumstance because we know that He is at hand, just as he told the disciples and Paul in Acts 18:10, “I am with you,” and David Livingstone.  When we come to the end of 2021, and face the beginning of 2022, we can take great comfort in His promise to be with us – It is the word of a gentlemen.  May it be so in your life.