Are you ready?

Many spend years working towards milestones and planning for retirement, but few are prepared for death. 

A few weeks ago, a long-term client of mine passed away. He had lived an eventful life. Despite a few devastating setbacks over his 80 years, he always seemed to take the knocks in his stride, and he always bounced back. He was a successful businessman and was well-respected in his community. He was also a wonderful family man who loved his wife. He was also a good father.

At the age of 80, he had his share of aches and pains and a few health ailments, but he was still relatively fit and strong and thought he had many years of life in him. 

But one morning he woke up a little under the weather. By the afternoon he was in the hospital, and within a week he died. 

He thought he had many years left. 

While he had a Will and knew what he wanted to happen to his assets upon his death, he died without expecting it. When someone knows that they are close to death they usually get their affairs in order, but he left his paperwork in an absolute mess.

He wasn’t planning on dying. He thought he still had a good few years ahead, but he didn’t. 

In Psalms 90:10 the Bile says, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.”

He was a good man. He loved his wife. He was a great dad. He provided for his family during tough times. He was wise and a man of courage. Even though he was well into his golden years, he died prematurely and unexpectedly. 

Death happens to us all. Are you prepared for that day?

Just yesterday I heard a story of a young man. He was in the process of selling his apartment. He was planning to move closer to his family. Out of the blue, he developed a health complication, drove himself to the nearest hospital, and booked himself in. He died that same day. 

It reminds me of a scripture found in James 4:13-14, “Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

Life is fragile. It is short. We are here for a while and then we vanish. Sometimes we are so focused on life here and now that we give no thought to eternity. Many plan so meticulously for life here and now, but give very little thought to the afterlife.

Sometimes are so busy with life that we don’t see the big picture. Yes, we need to live with purpose and passion, but don’t lose sight of eternity. 

Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

Jesus spoke a lot about life beyond the grave – heaven and hell. He shared that everyone who dies will either spend eternity with Him in His Kingdom or be separated from him for all eternity. 

Do you know where you will spend your eternity? 

The bad news is that we have all sinned, and this puts you and me in a dangerous position with the Holy God, but out of a deep love for His creation God made a way for humanity to be made right with God. 

John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The good news is that Jesus paid the full price on the cross so that we can spend eternity with him. 

In Colossians 1:20 we are told that through Jesus, “God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

In John 11:25-26, Jesus also told us, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?”

Are you prepared for eternity?

You don’t have to fear death because Jesus offers eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:55 tells us, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  It goes on in 1 Corinthians 15:57 and tells us “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is more to life than just the temporary years on earth.  You were not made to just live 60 or 70 or 80 or even 90. You are made to live for eternity. One day your heart will stop beating and your body will die, but your spirit will continue to live forever. 

The question is: Where will you spend your forever? Are you ready?