10. Prepare for Death

 

God’s Bucket List for You, part 1

 

“Only the man who is prepared for death can truly be alive”

~Wanda Dollard, Corner Gas TV series

 

Introduction

In Hebrews 9:27, the writer states, And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. If God wrote your bucket list, preparing for death would be one of those goals. All too often, people live their life as if there are no consequences to their actions; as if God doesn’t exist.

As we’ve seen in the series on Judgment Day, there are consequences for our actions. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

Write Your Own Eulogy

Too many people attempt to put a positive spin on funerals. They call it a ‘Celebration of Life’. However, funerals are not for the dead, but for the living. It is the one event where everyone should be focused on their own mortality.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:2-3, Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

One of the best ways to prepare for death is to think about what would be said at your funeral. What would be said about you? That you were a hard worker? A dedicated family man? Loving Husband and Father? That you enjoyed life? How few of words could sum up your entire life?

 

Keeping Up with The Jones’

Instead of focusing on spiritual things, most people spend their lives trying to compete with their neighbor or best friend in regard to owning things. They have a new car, so you buy a new car. They have a new boat, so you buy a new house. And on and on. Paul writes about this in 2 Corinthians 10:12, For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

What happens to all of those possessions when you die? They become someone else’s property. In Ecclesiastes 2:21-22, Solomon wrote, For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?

 

Are You Where You Need to be?

In Matthew 16:26 Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” People spend too much money to get that perfect life, that they end up working 60-70 hours just to pay it off and they don’t have time to enjoy it.

Jesus also said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Be content with what you have. Do you know where Paul was when he wrote this? In prison, with little to no hope of release. If Paul can be content in prison, we can be content with what we have.

 

Conclusion

God wants us to prepare for death and one of the best ways is to spend more time in His Word. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” God will give you what you need if you spend more time in service to Him.