When death pulls the trigger with its sights set on you, will you—will I—be ready? That thought has been on my mind recently not in a morbid sense, but in the sense of a sobering reminder that with each advancing year, death becomes a greater reality for me. What triggered my reflection and pondering is that recently I learned that one of my high school classmates had just lost his year-long battle with cancer. Reading his obituary caused me to reflect on my own approaching appointment with death—a date not yet on my calendar but still an assured reality nonetheless. He was less than one day younger than me. Once again, life had given me a sobering reminder that the ratio of death to people is still one per person.
The news of his death generated a quick response on our graduating class’s Facebook page. As classmates began to post comments about his impact on their lives, I posted these words: “loved his sense of humor; loved his compassion for helping the hurting; admired how he fought so hard to live yet was so ready to die.” His life left a huge footprint, but so did the way he dealt with his approaching death – with deep and active faith that sustained him until his last breath.
Are you ready to die? Let me offer just a few pieces of evidence to look for.
- You will know you are ready to die when you have truly accepted the reality that one day your life will come to an end.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (ESV) says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.” Now at first glance this seems like such an obvious statement that it doesn’t warrant an iota of consideration. We might even ask, who in his/her right mind does not recognize the fact that at some point he/she is going to die? Understand this. To acknowledge the reality of death is not the same as accepting the reality of death. To acknowledge the reality of death simply means that I recognize that people die. To accept the reality of death means that I know that one day it will be me who dies. Why is this such an important understanding to possess? It can help you deal with illness in an emotionally healthy way by helping you face sickness without panic. It can also keep you from drawing the spiritually andemotionally harmful conclusion that somehow you have been singled out by God for punishment by illness. - You will know you are ready to die when you have accepted the fact that your death could come at any moment.
Ecclesiastes 8:8 (ESV) says, “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death.” How, then, will we recognize that we have accepted this reality? It will be when we plan and prepare as if it will be today, but we live life as if it won’t be for a long time. It is important to understand that acceptance of this particular truth about death can have opposite effects. It can paralyze you or it can energize you. It can paralyze you by locking you up with such things as excessive worry, anxiety, distraction, and lack of focus. Or it can energize you to do the things necessary to have your life in order and make it easier on your family and friends, such as putting in place key legal documents like a will, a durable power of attorney, and a healthcare power of attorney. It can energize you to communicate your funeral wishes to your family. It can energize you to review key financial information with the family member(s) who will probate your estate. It can energize you to keep doing all you can to maintain your personal relationships in good standing. It can energize you to keep your personal debts (i.e., emotional and financial) paid up. It can energize you to do all you can not to come to death with regrets unaddressed. - You will know that you are ready to die when you’re prepared to live an eternal life and know you will not have to live an eternal death.
Ecclesiastes 3:8 says, “He [God] has put eternity into man’s heart….” (ESV) What evidence is there that each of us has the spirit of eternity in our hearts – that strong and innate desire to live forever? The evidence is found in our collective efforts to stay alive through medicines, surgeries, therapies, and other medical efforts. Please let this important eternal truth capture your heart and mind. Just having the desire to live forever is not enough to live an eternal life, but it is enough to live an eternal death. What makes the difference? The Bible says the difference is Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, the only person to die and be resurrected from the dead. Let’s hear it in His own words as recorded in John 11:25-26. Speaking to a friend named Mary whose brother had recently died He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in me shall never die.” And then He asked the most important question that must be answered correctly to be ready to die, “Do you believe this?”
Do you believe what Jesus said? Until you do, you will not be fully ready to die.
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