TITLE: How to prepare for your death By Anthony David 10/09/05 |
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HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR DEATH
By
Dr.M.Anthony David
SUDDEN DEATH:
A sudden explosion. The bus swerved, swayed and slewed before slowly coming to a sudden halt. A huge drilling rig had just rammed into it and driven off in haste. The bus was to reach its destination in just a few more minutes. Chaos and cries resounded from the till then peacefully dozing passengers. A shower of fine glass peppered our heads as we sat dazed. Shrieks and cries began. The man next to me groaned in agony – his elbow was broken and his hand was dangling free. I glanced at the seat in front of me and saw that both the passengers there had passed out: one looked as if he had died on the spot. Few children were screaming their head off.
But somehow, by God’s grace, I was spared, I thought. Not a scratch on me. Except for the shock, I was fine. Immediately I set about helping the injured. Tearing the cushion cover from the bus seat I made a makeshift sling for my neighbor’s broken arm. I thought of the fellow in the seat in front of me. So much full of life till just a few moments ago. And yet, after a fatal moment, no more? How sudden was his death! I wondered in silence.
DEATH: WHAT IS IT?
Only one thing is sure for all who are born in this world: that is they will die. This is an inevitable statistic. But what is death? An interesting question indeed. Death is the cessation of life, as we know it. When our mortal bodies cease to exist and we give up living. No one, whether he is a King, statesman or pauper is exempt from death. Death can come at anytime.
Once you are born, you are liable to die. This is for sure. Disease, danger or accident can take your life suddenly. Or you can die due to old age slowly. Death can be sudden or slow, painful or painless. You may or may not be forewarned about its approach. But death is inevitable indeed.
DEATH: A WORD TO BE AVOIDED?
We are so afraid of death, which we have to face though, that we even avoid using the word ‘death’. Euphemisms such as ‘passing away’ or ‘expiring’ are used in place of death. Thinking about death and preparing for it is indeed heard of in most circles. But the fact remains that we have to face death and so it is essential for us to prepare for it. How does one prepare for death?
PREPARE FOR YOUR DEATH:
First of all we need to accept the fact that one day we will have to die. This is not easy. We want to hope that we will live forever. Even if our colleagues, friends or loved ones die, we get over their loss very soon. We delude ourselves saying, “I am different. I won’t die. I’ll live for ever”. This is far from truth. Whether we like it or not we will die one day. Realizing this is our first preparation for our death.
We also need to prepare for our death in practical terms. Have we set our affairs in order? Have we written out our final will and testament? Have we provided for our families and dependants financially and otherwise in case of our sudden death? These are essential things to do especially if we have a lot of family members depending solely on us. But hat is not all.
We need to know what happens during and after death. But how can we do this? Has anyone returned from death to tell us how it was? Well, no one has done it. But a few people have undergone ‘near death’ and ‘out of body’ experiences. They almost died and came back to life. Most of them say that death is peaceful. They say that their whole life flashed before them in an instant. They also report that they saw a guide or helper take them out of darkness into light. They felt that death is like a dark tunnel with a light at its end.
THE BEST PREPARARTION:
After death we will meet our Creator. It is better that in this life we spend a little time to prepare to meet Him. This is perhaps the wisest investment of your time. You are spending a part of your finite time to reap eternal life.
If we reconcile ourselves to our God, repent of all our sins, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross for our sins, we are fully prepared for death. The Bible, that remarkable best seller, says that if you do this, you will never die. Or even if you die, you will be resurrected. What a glorious hope indeed!
RELEASE FROM DEATH:
The believer in Christ can look forward to either of two methods of release from death. If he is still alive when Christ comes back to the earth in Rapture, he will be transformed into immortality in a second. And he will rise up to meet Christ in mid air. He will die no more then. The other possibility is that he may die physically if that happens before the Rapture. But he will be resurrected first and given an immortal body again at Rapture when Christ comes back to the mid air.
MOST IMPORTANT: VITAL DECISION:
All of us have to die. If not today, tomorrow or at a later date. We have to face death – the inevitable equalizer. Once we know this, we need to prepare for the same. Whatever is inevitable needs to be faced. Isn’t it better if we face death well prepared?
So the most important decision or choice of your life is before you today, at this hour and minute as you are reading this article. Have you prepared for your death? To face your Creator God at His judgment? If not, why not take a decision now, today! Decide to turn back and repent from all your evil sinful ways and seek the freely given forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. You don’t need to pay anything. You don’t need to do anything too. Remember, if you defer your decision to tomorrow, you may even face death later today, totally unprepared!
SPARED FROM DEATH: FOR THIS?
Death beckons you and me. Yes, we all are sure to die. In fact that is the only sure thing to happen to us in this world. Perhaps God spared me the other day in the bus accident only to impress upon me this fact. “Son, you are spared from facing death today. But remember, a day will come son when you will have to face death and stand before me”. I wonder whether He spared me to let me share through this article and warn you, my dear reader.
I wish each of you to be sure of where you will spend your eternity. Yes, there is life after death indeed! But it can be in eternal hell or heaven. It all depends on your decision on this earth today. Will you take the right decision and prepare for your death?
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