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Bible Will I Find: How To Prepare For My Death? By: Gary Colley
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Bible Will I Find: How To Prepare For My Death? By: Gary Colley
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Some think more about dying than they do about living. Others think it morbid to think about death at all. However, the Bible has much to say about the here and hereafter. "Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4: 12), is a very important exhortation. Israel needed to know who it was they were about to meet in battle! It was "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 (armies) , is his name" (Amos 4:13). We must know who it is that we must stand before in Judgement! All will be there, and all will give an account to God (II Cor.5:10-11). There will not be any character witnesses there. ..they will not be needed.. .and judgement will be just! There is no higher court to which we can appeal. ..this will be the highest tribunal ever known! So, to prepare for our death is highly important. Our concern should not be placed so much on when, where, and how we shall die, because we have no control over these things. Many give much thought to the time when they will be beyond the age of employment and strive to make provision for their retirement. Yet, none of us know whether we shall reach that time or not. James warns of putting too much thought on the here and now, and not enough on our future after we leave this life (Jas.4:13-15). Jesus says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." (Matt.6:19-21). Paul writes, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they ye not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God. ..Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal live" (I Tim.6:17- 19). The most important things to be done to prepare for death is to obey the Lord in faith that He is the Christ, repentance from our past sins, confession of our Saviour's name before men with our mouth, and baptism in water for the remission of sins. Then we must live faithfully to His commands for the rest and best of our lives (Rev.2:10; II Pet.1:5-11).--Gary Colley