Remember what my span of life is; For what vanity You have created all the sons of men! What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of sheol? (Psalm 89: 47, 48)
Walking through a cemetery, I'm reminded that those buried there were once like most of us. They had joys and sorrows, successes and failures. They continued to make plans with little or no thoughts about death and eternity. An inscription on one tombstone reads, "Remember friends as you pass by; How you are now, so once was I. How I am now, so you must be. So prepare for death and follow me."
But how are we to prepare for death? We are told to prepare for death by having our estate in order. This seems like good advice I guess. Of course that assumes you have an estate. Jesus' total worldly estate consisted of the clothes he was wearing and the Roman soldiers settled His estate; So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be". This was to fulfill the Scripture: "They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." (John 19:24)
We also prepare for death by not leaving anything important unsaid. Jesus told His disciples about His coming death and departure, but then encouraged them by telling them about His resurrection and reuniting with them in heaven;If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3) Jesus provided for the care of His widowed mother Mary; When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple (John) whom He loved standing nearby (the cross), He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son...From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. (John 19:26, 27)
Of course the most important way to prepare for death is to be sure we are ready to stand before the Lord's judgment; And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9:28) Are you prepared for death?