Our Death and Preparation For It
When one is confronted with their death, there is one question which surely must be on their minds; the certainty they have regarding salvation of their souls. It is easy to assure folks that you are ready to pass from this life and face eternity, but when that time comes, very few are “ready” to die.
I’m not saying that some are not prepared, as they have learned what God has said in His Holy Word, and they have done those things, then lived a life of faithful service. They know of the great promises of God and look forward to receiving the reward God has prepared for the obedient and the faithful.
As hard as it is to grasp, death is a reality all must face. The Spirit had the wise man, Solomon, pen the Words we read in Ecclesiastes 9:10-11 to help us see this as well as the fact that whatever we do, we need to do it now as we cannot do it after this life. These verses also inform that this happens to all, as God is not a respecter of persons. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Let’s face it – We are born to die. That is the way of humanity. The time we have on this earth is granted so we can get ready to die. We don’t know how long this will be. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 we find there is a “season” for all that is appointed to man. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; The verses following this cover most all areas of life. When life is over, there is likely much more we would like to have accomplished.
There was a great deal remaining for Israel to do when the Spirit had the prophet warn them in Amos 4:11-13. Israel was the nation through which the promised Messiah was to come. Notice in verse 12 what they were told they needed to do in their lives. I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
In the above passage, we are told that God, the creator and sustainer of life, has told man what to do. He has also told man when to do it. Throughout the Scriptures man has been warned of the brevity of life and what will befall the souls of those who do not prepare. We learn from the pen of Paul as guided by the Spirit in 1Corinthians 15:19 that our hope MUST be placed in that beyond this life. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
As for Israel, in that Covenant God had made for them, Micah 6:8 sums it up well, and also applies to us under the New Testament covenant of God. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Are not these things also what God has required of us? When can we do these things? When can we follow the Word of God? It is in this life only! Are we so blind to think that “not doing” as God requires is pleasing to Him? Do we honestly believe God will “go against” His warnings of punishment upon those who fail to do as He Commands? Surely not!
His Word tells us in 2Thessalonians 1:7-9 what will happen when God has determined that “time for preparation” has ended for all humanity. All tend to believe His promises for “eternal life”. Why do they not believe what He teaches regarding “eternal condemnation”? And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; Some will die before the Lord returns. What if they have not made the proper preparation? Where does that leave them? It leaves them in the hand of a merciful, yet just God who will do exactly what He has promised in His Word.
We don’t know the time of our departure from this life. Don’t you think the most important thing would be to make preparation now? We do know that after this life there is the judgment. Hebrews 9:27 clearly shows this. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Even if there is “more to do”, why not make the needed changes, so that you are ready if time runs out for you? The brethren in Philippians 2:12 were told to: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Why not get busy now and prepare as God has directed in His Word so you can spend your eternity with Him. You can’t “get ready” after you die.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
