If you were told you only had a few months to live, how ready would you be?
What thoughts would flood your mind, what emotions would stir your heart, and what feelings would take hold of you? How often do you even think about death?
I suppose the answer depends on your circumstances.
For someone battling a long and painful illness, maybe they’ve had time to prepare. For the young, with dreams as vast as the sky and plans still unfolding, the thought might be unbearable. And for the weary, the frail, and the elderly, maybe the prospect of death feels like a quiet release and relief.
Have you ever reflected on the final days of Jacob—also known as Israel? His story is extraordinary.
For years, he believed his beloved son Joseph was dead, the victim of a wild animal, thanks to the cruel deception of his other sons. Imagine carrying that grief for so long.
But then, in a turn of events that only God could orchestrate, Jacob learns that Joseph is not only alive but thriving. In fact, Joseph had risen to become the Governor of Egypt, overseeing the distribution of food during a severe famine.
On a visit from his brothers to purchase food, Joseph finally revealed his identity and told them to bring their father to Egypt. When Jacob arrived and saw Joseph with his own eyes, he said:
“Now I am ready to die, because I have seen your face and I know you are still alive.” (Genesis 46:30, NCV)
What does it mean to be ready to die? The truth is, the death rate is 100%. None of us are getting out of here alive.
I believe the Bible teaches that death is like sleep. (Daniel 12:2), (Job 3:11-17), (Ps. 13:3), (Acts 7:59-60), (1 Corinthian) and many more.
At Christ’s second coming, we will be resurrected, given new bodies, and live in a new heaven and on a new earth. (Revelation 21)
Yes, I know many people believe their loved ones go straight to heaven and are watching over them. There are passages in the Bible that seem to support this, but there are also gaps in that theory.
It’s worth studying for yourself. Either way, the end result is the same: peace, renewal, and heaven-bound joy.
Think about sleep—when we close our eyes, we’re unaware of the passage of time. In the blink of an eye, we’ll awaken to eternity, whether we understand it fully now or not.
So, are you ready to die?
Life is full of the unexpected: accidents, sudden illness, tragedies that come without warning. We can’t avoid death, but we can live prepared for it. Are you ready?
LORD, give us an eternal perspective. Help us love You with everything we have and spend our lives loving others as we love ourselves. Prepare our hearts for eternity. IJNIP ♥️
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