This is an excerpt from a sermon given by Martin Luther King Jr., two months before his death.

Every now and then I guess we all think realistically (Yes, sir) about that day when we will be victimized with what is life's final common denominator—that something that we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don't think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, "What is it that I would want said?" And I leave the word to you this morning.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. (Yes) And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize—that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards—that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. (Yes)

I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. (Yes)
I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.
I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. (Amen)
I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. (Yes)
And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. (Yes)
I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. (Lord)
I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. (Yes)

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. (Amen) Say that I was a drum major for peace. (Yes) I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. (Yes) I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. (Amen) And that's all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,
Then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,
If I can spread the message as the master taught,
Then my living will not be in vain.

Truly inspiring, and this is the way that God has called us to live. For your information a drum major is the one who is always in front of the procession and is seen by everyone; a leader of sorts. As Christians, we too must be willing to stand up strong in front of everyone, to stand up for Jesus that He may be glorified, and in doing so lead more to Him.

"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2.

This thought has been weighing on my mind for a long time, and made even heavier ever since I entered the army. It can be summed up in what someone once said to us in JC, "You all are economic assets to the country... is that a problem"? Why is it that we are being ruled by the world, and not vice versa? I keep getting the vision of massive tides of people, being swayed to and fro on the face of time, much like some of those rides we see in theme parks. We see the problem everywhere- people are living for money, organizations, power, and are content to let these things decide their goals and values for them. A very good example is scholarships- big, rich organizations like the government and the army promise a hugely successful and comfortable life, if people would be willing to submit to them and serve their visions and goals. The army, especially. There is a certain way you are expected to conduct yourself, certain values that you must adhere to, and if you screw up in anyway, you are punished. There is little room for deviance or non-compliance. And the sad thing is that people have become used to and content with this kind of life. Why not? I don't have to believe in anything, I'll just do what they want me to do, and they'll provide all the comforts I want. Going with the flow, so to speak.

But why should we become the world's assets? Why should we let the world decide for us what we believe in? The world did not create us, God did! The world has no claim on our hearts and minds, only Jesus does. Jesus is our true Lord. And God who created us has a purpose for us- the above verse sums it up. We are living for God, not for the world. The world is in a very sad state today. Helpless masses are swayed and moved by higher authorities that make decisions based on power and economic need. Those who have an interest in international relations and politics would realise that this is true. There is no absolute right or wrong cause, everything is in a grey area. Love for fellow man is nowhere to be found. All this has happened because the world is estranged from God's purpose and gone on to seek its own; it does not know, or has chosen to ignore, the calling that the true King, has for each and every one of us.

Never underestimate the importance of this purpose God has for us- it is not an option, it is a command. But it is not a command that we need be afraid of, or one that is difficult to obey. Recognise that Jesus is the true sovereign King of this world and our lives, and remember the price that He paid that we may know Him and be part of His purpose. Everything we do is a wholehearted response to his magnificent love.

It would be too idealistic to say that we as Christians are here to change the way the world works. It is too late for that, it would not be possible, and that was never what God had in mind. "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine." John 17: 9. His Kingdom is not here on earth. Which is why Jesus told His disciples, "You are not of this world". But as Christians our fundamental purpose must be different. Our sole purpose must be to glorify our Heavenly Father and be a beacon of His light and love. God will lead some of us on to Christian environments, some to secular environments. But no matter where we are, we must recognise that we are living for a higher goal, a higher calling. And what happens when the world tells us to do something that is against our faith? Will we be willing to stand up for God and glorify Him? This is a question we must all ask ourselves.

Some of us are or have been soldiers in the army, but all of us are soldiers for God. We are fighting for Him. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may praise him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Tim 2: 3-4. Forget and let go of the things of this world, and your desire for them, for they are but trappings. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2. One day this world will pass away, leaving nothing behind. And the new kingdom of God will come in glory and majesty. I sincerely pray that on that day all of us will be able to hold the banners of the Cross high before His throne, and say that we have served the true King.

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." 1 John 2:17

"Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity... Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12: 8,13

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Ephesians 4: 1-2.

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:8.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Somehow I keep coming back to this verse. I asked my cell today what they understood by this verse, and the common answer was that in our lives, many things happen, both good and bad, and we may not understand the reasons why at that point. But God uses everything for our good, to make us better, to bring us closer to him. And that is so true. Though this may be cliche, but life is really like a rollercoaster. Just when we thought things were going fine and smooth, God throws in another turn or bend. Through all the years I have learned one thing- that his thoughts are way beyond ours, and he always has something unexpected. Indeed when God works in our lives, it is always in ways that we least expected. And there is another dimension beyond what happens externally- our own hearts are the greatest battlefields. We are our greatest enemies. If life were a rollercoaster, we would be trains that would fly off the tracks the moment we were not held fast by the hand of God. Looking back I realise that the only things that have been constant in my life, are my own failure, and God's love, forgiveness and redemption. How many times, and how quickly, we have strayed from God! But every time God has been there to pick us up and set us back gently on the right track. And when He said "all things work together for good", He meant all things. God uses even our own failures, our own weaknesses, to show us how undependable we are, and how we desperately need God's love and strength. To humble us and help us to find our place in Him.

This verse, we must realise, is a testimony of the greatness and depth of God's love for us- that He will never allow those who love Him to be moved; that He will use every single thing , good or bad, that happens in our lives for our good and to bring us closer to Him. We may not understand fully, but on hindsight we will see that it is true. It is no wonder that the same chapter of Romans 8 contains these words, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." v. 38-39. As I am writing this I am aware of the weakness of my heart, and I know that before this day is over I would have sinned, many times probably. But, while God's love is not an excuse for us to sin, as we take up our cross and follow him daily God's love triumphs over our sin and weakness. As we pour every bit of our heart and strength into seeking and following Him, His strength will guide us and prevail where our own strength fails. Reflect upon the depth of His love, and receive it into your heart this day, and respond to it wholeheartedly. If you are confused or struggling with something in your life, or God seems to be a million miles away, know the depth of God's love, and remember Romans 8:28.

Some of you may know about Esther Tan, a J2 girl from ACJC, who just passed away two days ago from a virus. Her father was my dad's colleague; she was the only child. Imagine the grief of her parents; the grief of all those who knew her and were close to her; it is a grief that no words can ever assuage. Why does God allow such things to happen? We will never know the answer, but we have the comfort and joy of knowing that she has moved on to a far better place. Today she is with Jesus in Paradise. Hear the words that Abraham Lincoln spoke, "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost..."

And for us who are on this earth, let us learn an important lesson from this. Life is so precious, so fleeting. And we who are blessed with it, let us not waste it on frivolous pursuits or purposeless living. Let us devote every moment, every breath to serving the God who loves us and has redeemed us for that purpose. And let us love others in the way that shows that their lives, every single one, is precious, to us and to God.