The Last WordYear 13PrefectsLeadershipAssembly
Samuel Crump, 25 August 2026
The Last Word
An American man named Brooks Buser lived with an unreached tribe in a remote part of Papua New Guinea from 2003 to 2016.
For thirteen years, Buser spoke their language, learned how to live within their culture, and became a member of their tribe. After returning to his home in San Diego, he spoke at a conference, and I happened to be listening to a recording of his speech a couple of weeks ago.
It was a great message, but among the crazy stories about hunting crocodiles with spears and taking part in bizarre tribal rituals, Buser said something that stuck with me. He said, “I’m convinced that young people would do so much better if they saw bodies buried more often without makeup, without suits.”
Now, you’re probably having the same reaction that I had when I first heard that quote. What a strange and dark thing to say! But let me explain the point that he was trying to make. Buser was addressing the problem that people don’t have a good grasp of the fact that we will all die. He was addressing the issue that people don’t understand the reality that every single one of us is on the same trajectory towards death.
But still, why did he choose to mention this? I think it was because having an understanding of death leads to a very, very important realisation. If death is the inevitable and unavoidable end of every human life, then everything we spend our lives building, everything we spend our lives chasing, and everything we spend our lives experiencing will eventually come to an end. If everything eventually disappears, then what lasting meaning can life really have?
There are these lyrics to this one song that you might know which talk about this issue. They say:
“What's the purpose? What's the point?
Nothing matters, I'm just matter, I'm just atoms
Ain't no Eve and ain't no Adam
Where the Xannies? Let me have ‘em”
You see, boys, when you realise that the inevitable end to every human life is death, you can’t help but feel empty. Now, we can try to fill this emptiness with money, objects, achievements, status, drugs, but you’ve heard it all before: these things don’t actually satisfy you. And I know it’s cliché, but it’s cliché for a reason: it’s cliché because it’s true. Nothing matters because you are just matter. You are just a collection of atoms. And if that is the whole truth, then nothing you do matters. The way you treat people doesn’t matter. The things you experience don’t matter. The things that you acquire don’t matter. When there is nothing beyond this life and when nothing in this life can fully satisfy you, then what is your purpose? Why are you here?
Well, boys, I want to offer you a solution. I know exactly why I am here. I know that I am more than just a collection of atoms. I know that my life has a real purpose. And that purpose is more than just chasing temporary things and temporary feelings. This comes from my faith in Jesus.
What I do matters. The way I treat people matters. The things that I experience matter because I am not living to make myself feel good; I am living to please something bigger than myself.
And I can say with 100% certainty that this way of life is actually fulfilling. Living for God gives you forgiveness for your failures, hope when things are hard, peace when things are painful, and a purpose that goes beyond this life.
And this isn’t just exclusive to me. The same forgiveness, hope, peace and purpose that I have found in Jesus is available to every single person in this room.
If this has moved you in any way, please look more into it. Come and talk to me. Just to let you know, we have a Christian group every Wednesday lunchtime in Room 206, which is Mr Hyslop’s room. Everybody is welcome to come and learn more about what it means to be a Christian.
I’m going to leave you with a quote from my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”