Articles
Prepared to Die!
You can't fool the kids in Sunday school, they are way too smart... “If I sold my house
and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church, would I get into
heaven?” I asked the children in my Sunday school class. “NO!” all the children answered. “If I
cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get
into heaven?” Again the answer was, “NO!” “Well”, I continued, “then how can I get to
heaven?” A 5-year- old boy shouted, “You gotta be dead!”
In one survey the only thing that people fear more than death is public speaking. For most
people death is a scary thing best not thought of at all. As a Christian we should not fear death,
but death represents an unknown, a new experience that often does scare us. Birth and death have
a lot in common. Before birth we are in the only world we know: it is warm, comfortable and
everything we need is provided. Life for most of us is comfortable, we have all we need, and it’s
all we know. However, both of these require a change going from the known to the new.
The Bible speaks about preparing for the future and what the future holds for a Christian.
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to
subject all things to Himself ” (Philippians 3:20-21).
Jesus has gone on before us and He is preparing a place for us. “In My Father's house are
many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for
you” (John 14:2).
The place that is being prepared will be a lot better than this one. We will be with God
and free from any pain and suffering we had in this life. “He will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). As a Christian, place your
faith in God, remain obedient, and do not fear death. ~ Brad Tolbert
