DESCRIPTION

TRACT TEXT

Show me, O LORD , my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life - Psalm 39:4

Pope John Paul II, the beloved spiritual leader to more than 1 billion Catholics, has died “with the serenity of the saints.” His close friend, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who was at the pope’s bedside as he died, declared, “We entrust with confidence to the risen Christ, Lord of life and history, our beloved John Paul II who for 27 years guided the universal church.”

Although millions will mourn his passing, the Bible reminds us that all of us will one day die. You could say that in God’s economy, death is a fact of life. 

Most of us expect to live long, rewarding lives before death’s ultimate arrival. We want to marry, raise children, and retire well. Certainly no one expects to die “before our time,” or worse, to lose our faculties like Terri Schiavo.

So we spend ourselves on living and give little thought to dying. “I’ll prepare later,” we say. But death often comes with no opportunity for final preparation.

So, these words are a gift to you—a gift to help you spend time preparing for death. This is not being morbid. Truth is, if you prepare well to die, you’ll live at your peak now, and when you die you will enter an eternity of complete joy (2 Corinthians 4:17).

We all have an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27). You might guess that your death is a long way off, when actually it might be as soon as...today.

A few months ago my friend Terry was in seemingly great health: racquetball three times a week, cholesterol low and body trim. We talked at a reception celebration Saturday afternoon. He then went home to spend an evening with his family. But suddenly he slumped forward in that favorite easy chair and just died. His appointment had come...unexpectedly.

That’s one reason why wise people prepare to die when the likelihood of death seems very far away. Wise people are ready for death whenever it comes.

Here’s how:

Some people think that eternal life, if it can be found, begins after death. The truth is, God offers us eternal life during our earthly life. It is God’s plan that when death comes, we do not have to fear some quantum change. Death, in fact, for those who are prepared, serves as an embarkation into the fullness of the life we have already begun to live with God.

Jesus puts it in these terms: I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him [God] who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24).

“From death to life”...it is a crossing over, spiritually, during this life, not at the end.

Put your faith and trust in Jesus.

Ask Him to forgive you of your sin and direct your life. It is by His death and resurrection that you are saved. When life with Jesus has been entered into, death (when it occurs) will simply facilitate your crossing over fully into eternal life with God.

So hear Jesus speaking to you, even as you reflect on these words. Tell Him that you believe He is the Son of God and Savior of the world...and you want to cross over into life. Ask Him to put His eternal life within you. He will. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved (Acts 2:21).

Follow up  your decision by finding a strong, Bible-teaching church. You need to live in real fellowship and loving relationships with other believers who crossed over from death to life, as you have. These people are part of the great community of heaven. They are truly part of your forever family. They will bless you in this life, miss you after you have died, and spend eternity with you in the presence of God. Time invested now will make the family reunion then even more rich and joyful

Second,ask the pastor about being baptized. Baptism makes a public statement that you have died with Christ and have been raised by Him to newness of life (Romans 6:3-11).

Third, also critical is the preparation of legal documents that express your desires should you become unable to communicate. Living wills (advance directives) help medical staff and others to make decisions about your care and treatment should you become seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.

Fourth, bank in heaven. You can take it with you. Build up your account with God. The benefits? Total security. The pleasure of God. A heart that progressively moves to heaven. Jesus said, Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:20,21). Move your heart to heaven now and your body will follow.

Finally, live each day with the primary objective to please God in all you do. He has a plan for your life. Recognizing that plan and doing it makes for a daily experience of joy and the certain confidence of future blessing and reward.

Find His peace in life, and don’t allow busyness to squeeze out your intimacy with God. Intimacy with Him brings the strength to face any challenges that come and especially to be strong in the final challenge of death.