Take Care Of The Practical Matters Before You Depart

Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.
–2 Kings 20:1

You can prepare for your journey to Heaven by taking care of the practical matters before you depart. Before you depart this world, make sure that those you care about most are adequately provided for.

Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah with a sobering message. He said, “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live” (2 Kings 20:1). That is good advice for all of us.

A friend of mine attended a seminar about making financial preparations in the event of a spouse’s death. When my friend returned from the conference, he had a frank talk with his wife about what she should do if he preceded her in death. “Honey,” he said, “I think you should plan to stay in the house since the mortgage is almost paid.” She agreed. “And if you choose to remarry, that is fine with me. In fact, I would have no problem with your new husband and you occupying our bedroom.” Again, no disagreement from his wife. “Also, I would want him to feel free to use my golf clubs if he was as passionate about the game as I am,” he added. “Oh, no! That would never work!” my friend’s wife said. “Why not?” her husband wondered. “Because you’re right-handed, and he’s left-handed!”

That is a funny story, but what is not funny are people who depart without telling their family anything in making adequate preparation. The fact is, you are going to die.

The early death of both of my parents had a profound effect on my life. Both were strong believers who taught me not only how to live as a Christian but also how to die as a Christian. Their deaths steeled my resolve to live without regrets and to die without regrets.

If I were to compose my own epitaph, I could not come up with anything better than the one engraved on Abraham’s headstone: “[He] died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8). Abraham came to the end of his life without a long list of “if onlys” or “what ifs.” He knew his past mistakes had been forgiven. He was satisfied, knowing that he had passed along his faith in God to his children and grandchildren. And he was at peace and prepared for his journey to be “gathered to his people.”

Are you ready for your journey to Heaven? If you are a Christian, you need not fear the journey, especially when you consider the destination. It is a place where every heartache will be erased, and every dream will be fulfilled. It is a place reserved for those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior. It is a place called Heaven.

Today’s devotion is excerpted from “How Can I Prepare For My Journey To Heaven?” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2016.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org)