We cannot keep ourselves from dying (Eccl 8:8, CW). Consequently, we should think about what it will mean to die (Eccl 7:2, CW). When we reflect on the fact that we will die, we will be more inclined to live by God’s wisdom (Ps 90:12, NET). “All the first Christians could face death with a smile” (M. Lloyd-Jones).
When the ruthless Soviet leader, Stalin, was about to die, he flailed his arms like he was trying to protect himself from attacking animals. Somewhat similarly, when W. C. Fields, a lifelong atheist, was asked why he was reading the Bible on his deathbed, he said he was “looking for loopholes.” Conversely, Saint Augustine of Hippo said, “Nothing has contributed more powerfully to wean me from all that held me down to earth than the thought, constantly dwelt upon, of death and the last judgment.”
It is easy to sleepwalk through life without thinking very much about death and judgment. Living well, though, means being ready to die (Heb 9:27-28). How do we prepare for death? Certainly, we avoid death-bed attempts to start discovering biblical answers. After all, sin has the effect of hardening us toward God so we are less likely to genuinely seek His forgiveness later in life (Heb 3:13). Instead, we should begin, at an early age, to learn and embrace biblical solutions. We surrender our lives, in faith, to the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16; 5:24; Acts 16:31), who forgives us (Rom 8:1, 33-34). In thanksgiving for the free gift of forgiveness (Eph 2:8-9), we do our best to accurately understand and live as God, our Judge, would want us to live (2 Cor 5:9-10). Then, we need not be in terror as we are about to die (Phil 1:21-23; 2 Cor 5:1-6). Rather, we can then peacefully pass through the doorway that is called death (Rom 5:1, NASB).
Instead of being timid, learn to be appropriately bold.