A Good Death

Wang Zhiming (1907–1973) was a Miao pastor in Wuding County, Yunnan, China. Educated in mission schools, he later taught for a decade before being elected chairman of the Sapushan Church Council in 1944 and ordained in 1951.

During the Cultural Revolution, Wang was arrested in 1969 for criticizing atheistic campaigns and refusing to denounce landlords. He was executed by a firing squad in a stadium on December 29, 1973, before a crowd of over 10,000 people. This public execution was intended to suppress Christian faith in Communist China but instead strengthened the resolve of local believers.

His martyrdom is commemorated with a statue at Westminster Abbey, honoring his steadfast faith.

Before his execution, he was asked if he had any last words to be sent to his family and friends. He left behind the essence of his life and death in a simple six word statement, "Tell them that I died well."

These are the words of a man who knew right up to the second before he died that his life had been well spent in the service of Christ. The hinge upon which his life or death hung was his belief or disbelief that Jesus was the Lord and Christ, and the one last time he was challenged to confess or deny Christ would result in His living or dying.

He knowingly chose to honor Christ one last time and thus die well in his soul, die well in his conscience, die well in his service to God, die well in his witness of who he was and how he would be remembered.

One thing is certain for all of us, and that is that one day we will die of some thing or other. Some may have a slow and painful passing, others may die in an instant not aware that we only have a few seconds left to live, and some few and blessed ones, like Wang Zhiming will choose to die rather than deny their belief in Christ.

Despite these different circumstances, we can all have a good death if we hold fast to the confession of faith made before our baptism at the beginning of our spiritual journey, that Jesus Christ is our divine savior and Lord. Maintaining this mindset to the end will guarantee that no matter what the circumstances, when the time comes, we too will be able to say to our brethren and loved ones, "Tell them that I died well."