Sentences Matter…
If you’re a fan of good books, like me, then you know that many times the first and last sentences are critical. The author needs to capture your attention right away to keep you reading, and then he/she needs to wrap up a satisfying ending to reward you for sticking with the whole story…
Let’s see how some of these classics measure up: FIRST SENTENCES
Gone With the Wind: “Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.”
Twilight: “I’d never given much thought to how I would die - though I’d had reason enough in the last few months - but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.”
To Kill A Mockingbird: “When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.”
Harry Potter (first book): “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”
A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”
Do any of these opening sentences make you want to read the book? If not, then maybe the authors didn’t do their job correctly. Let’s now see their endings: LAST SENTENCES
Gone With the Wind: “After all, tomorrow is another day!”
Twilight (4th book): “And then we continued blissfully into this small but perfect piece of our forever.”
To Kill A Mockingbird: “He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”
Harry Potter (7th book): “The scar had not pained Harry for 19 years.”
A Tale of Two Cities: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Do these endings satisfy? Do they cause you to take a deep breath and smile about the journey you just took? These are the kinds of questions I ask when I write. I haven’t written my first novel yet, but I hope to one day.
Now I’d like to draw your attention to the most important book in the whole world that anyone could - and should - read… God’s Word, the Bible. Let’s see God’s first and last sentences:
(Genesis 1:1) “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” I don’t know about you, but that is a pretty big statement, and God knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy (evolution vs. creation), but He starts at the very beginning of time and makes it perfectly clear that He was there; can’t do much better than that!
(Revelation 22:21) “Amen.” (which translated means, ‘Let it be done.’). I am going to cheat on this one, however, and type for you the last 2 verses of the Bible, to give you more context: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Rev. 22:20-21).
This brings me such comfort and excitement. By reading the entire Bible, and then seeing what is going on in the world today (as prophesied therein many times), this is the perfect ending. Jesus is coming soon to take His believers away from this place to our eternal destination, which He has made especially for us. I can’t wait! Come quickly, Lord Jesus.