I Did It My Way!Picture from www.franksinatra.com

Frank Sinatra made the song, My Way, popular when he recorded it in Hollywood, December 30, 1968. However the song was much more than a great hit because it's message reflected a growing philosophy in our culture. In fact, it put the 1960's cultural mindset into words, and helped to shape ideology for the next decade. No, I don't mean that one song accomplished all of this. I am saying that the song reflected the culture's philosophy because as an art form music is an expression of our soul. The lyrics follow.

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

The first stanza paints a word picture of someone facing the final moments of life with confidence. Unfortunately, the representation is that of self-confidence. There is one thing he knows, and that is that he did it his way. Even if he has regrets, it was his life. He made his own plans and did it all his way.

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

He was bold about it. He was in control! He spoke his own mind. While this philosophy sounds bold, it is also a mind set that rejects submission to God. Notice the words of the last stanza.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

If the person declaring this bold message is really facing the final curtain of life, then his life is ending in tragedy, because he has not realized the purpose for which he was created. In fact he sounds proud of the fact that his were not the words of someone "who kneels." To come to the end of life and not kneel before the Creator is tragic indeed. The Bible records in Hebrews 9:27

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Člověk umírá jen jednou, a pak bude postaven před soud.
(Židům 9:27)*

God created us all with a purpose, and one day we will face that final judgment. We will stand before God as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive what is due him for the things
done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Tak jako tak se nakonec všichni musíme postavit před
Kristův soud, kde bude každý náš čin,
dobrý i zlý, spravedlivě ohodnocen.
(2.list Korintským 5:10)*

The good news is that we can face the end with confidence, and it doesn't have to be some misguided self-confidence, if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. John 4:17 records it this way.

In this way, love is made complete among us so that
we will have confidence on the day of judgment,
because in this world we are like him.

Boží láska nám dává jistotu, že se nemusíme bát jeho soudu,
protože se snažíme uvádět do života jeho lásku.
(1.list Janův 4:17)*

I am praying today that you will turn your heart toward God, and ask Him to forgive you for living life "your way" instead of His way. Begin realizing the purpose for which you were created to live life at it's fullest. When you face your final curtain, I am praying that you will have confidence because you have kneeled before God and because you did it His way. Have a blessed day.

*Scripture verses in Czech for my friend Ludvik Machala