This devotional begins with a somber message… to some it may even be morbid.  What is this sobering thought?  It is the thought of our own death.  How do we cope with death and dying?
Do we see death as the world does, with fear and dread?

But for the followers of Christ… we have eternal life to look forward to with our God.  We anticipate going to where our saved friends and family are.  God’s presence in heaven!  Those who also loved the Lord and knew Jesus as their Savior are in heaven this moment.  What a future we have!

Throughout the Holy Bible… beginning in Genesis and continuing through to the last book of Revelation… the hope we are given for eternal life is quite apparent.  This life is not all there is! 

Jesus came to die in our places; He took our sins on Himself as if they were His sins.  The only sin God cannot forgive is to spurn, ignore, reject His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf.

God says that “… there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  (NASB Acts 4:12)

Jesus, faith in His death, burial and resurrection saves us from our sin.  God says so.

So to realistically prepare for our death is a logical step to take.  Why?  Why should we prepare?  For one thing our loved ones will have less to deal with after we die.

Buy a burial plot or arrange with a mortuary for cremation.  Even buying a headstone would be a thoughtful thing to do.  After a loved one dies, grief is overwhelming and to attend to such matters are cumbersome.  Even putting together the essential facts of our lives for an obituary would be helpful.  And planning your own funeral or memorial service would also be helpful.

Morbid?  No, it would be helpful to those we leave behind.

For the believers in Christ as their Savior… we do not need to fear death or fear where we are going as we will step from this life into eternity.  I fully expect to not “see” my death.  I will be breathing and it will stop and when my heart no longer beats, I will be with God my Savior – in heaven!

Jacob-Israel was old, really old.  He realistically knew he would not live much longer.  He sent for his beloved son, Joseph and asked him to promise to bury him in Canaan, in the family burial cave.  He wanted to be buried with his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham.  Not only were these men buried there; but, also their wives, including Leah, Jacob’s wife.

Joseph agreed to make all the travel arrangements for such a long journey and lead the funeral procession from Egypt to Canaan.  Besides, he had the authority in Egypt to do this very thing.
(Genesis 47:27-31)

~ Take it to heart ~

I am to look beyond my physical death and “see” my future ~ it is in heaven!