Scott Adams passed away on Tuesday after it was announced he was going into hospice care, ending the life of the famous cartoonist. During his anticipated death, Scott Adams wrestled with the eternal matters, ultimately planning a death bed conversion to Christianity. Having passed away on Tuesday, we read his final words, which provide an update on his spiritual plans.
A Final Message From Scott Adams
If you are reading this, things did not go well for me.
I have a few things to say before I go.
My body failed before my brain. I am of sound mind as I write this, January 1st, 2026. If you wonder about any of my choices for my estate, or anything else, please know I am free of any coercion or inappropriate influence of any sort. I promise.
Next, many of my Christian friends have asked me to find Jesus before I go. I’m not a believer, but I have to admit the risk-reward calculation for doing so looks attractive.
So, here I go:
I accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, and I look forward to spending an eternity with him. The part about me not being a believer should be quickly resolved if I wake up in heaven. I won’t need any more convincing than that. And I hope I am still qualified for entry.
These words were drafted before the video that Adams put out.
Jason Whitlock reacted to the note stating:
Just seeing this final note. I apologize for being this guy, but this note is problematic. It mocks Jesus Christ and Christianity. Not a fan at all. This isn’t the Thief on the Cross. This is a Thief.
First, Jason Whitlock should be commended for being willing to be “that guy.” The window for courage on speaking out about this is now, not in a few weeks.
Scott Adams shows the theological fallaciousness of Pascal’s Wager. The philosophical exercise is as follows: If one believes in God and God exists, the reward is infinite (eternal salvation or bliss). If one believes in God and God does not exist, the cost is finite and relatively minor (foregone pleasures). If one disbelieves in God and God exists, the penalty is infinite (eternal damnation). If one disbelieves in God and God does not exist, the gain is finite and minor (e.g., unrestricted earthly pursuits). Thus, Pascal concludes that the prudent choice is to wager on belief, as the potential upside vastly outweighs the downside, even in the face of uncertainty.
Scott Adams had the luxury, some might call it, of knowing his time was near and settling his affairs on earth. Thus, he had the ability to implement Pascal’s Wager in the wild.
But Pascal’s Wager does not save. Christianity is not true by virtue of begrudging belief. Jason Whitlock contrasts Scott Adams with the thief on the cross. This thief knew the heaviness of his sins and turned to the Savior. And while Scott Adams likely did not understand basic theological concepts (I don’t mean this as a dis), his admission of not being a believer yet accepting Jesus because of the cost-benefit analysis is not rooted in repentance.
John 3:16, the most basic Bible verse that most people know: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” A more precise understanding of believes is “all who were believing” as it is an active, ongoing verb. This is to say that belief is not a mere acknowledgement of truth. Belief is a life-defining action, even if it comes at the bitter end.
Another missing component here is faith. We are justified by grace through faith. Perhaps Adams was wrestling with doubts. But faith is what causes our belief. We do not have faith as a get out of hell free card or a ticket to Heaven in the afterlife.
Perhaps Scott Adams had a more sincere faith than his final words indicated. But it must be said: salvation is not a joke. Faith is not a trivial pursuit to be taken lightly. And of course, not everyone gets to anticipate their demise and make Pascal’s Wager with lucidity. Celebrity deaths often encourage people to contemplate their own mortality, and the gospel, not Pascal’s Wager, is what saves.
3 Responses
There are at least two problems for anyone planning a just in time deathbed conversion to Christianity:
1) No one knows the day or hour, and
2) God knows your heart
That said, I hope to meet brother Scott in joy someday.
Well it’s not me that has to be convinced about his conversion. Perhaps he was just hedging his bets. He mocked God his whole life so, there is that.
Yes, he maybe was sincere and I hope he so. But deathbed conversions do not bring much to the table or should I say the Bema Seat.
He may slide into Glory as a pauper. Yes I know, “Salvation in faith alone, by Grace alone lest any man should boast of his own works.”
With God nothing is impossible and there is a faint hope clause in which God says” I will have compassion on whom I will, and Mercy on whom I will.”
Most will never have the luxury of waiting until the last minute to choose Jesus.
Great, sobering post. Thank you.