"On Being Prepared"

Whenever I hear of or think of someone who has passed away, I find myself wondering,  "Where are they now, what are they doing, what did they find in the next life?"  Some may find that grim, macabre even; I find it realistic.  I am of the belief that life does not end when a final breath is taken on this earth but continues on in another realm, another dimension, that which is spiritual yet actual.  This life is temporal, short-term; the next is eternal, lasting forever. 

The afterlife, as it is often called, is conjured up in the minds of man to be almost fairytale-like, where the life left behind on earth continues on, filled with ethereal scenes and all things grand and glorious.  The possibility and probability of it being as man thinks is certainly remote.  Our imaginations are natural, a human response to deal with ideas and concepts which are larger than life.  After all, how can we begin to conceive of that which we've never seen?  

There are those who have had "Near Death Experiences," ones where the body has shut down, and the occupant of that body is taken into the realm of all that is eternal and then returned back.  They each have a similar, recognizable experience to recount, and the common theme is the sense of being unconditionally, overwhelmingly loved.  

For the most part, however, it's not like a tourist site, a cruise ship, or hotel accommodations where friends go and then return with their critiques, their recommendations or lack thereof.

Man spends an inordinate amount of time planning and preparing for situations and circumstances in life:  the evitable and the inevitable; the foreseen and the unforeseen; the what-ifs?, the emergencies.  Then there are the events:  the births of children, birthdays, holidays, graduations, weddings, education, vacations.  Retirement, healthcare concerns, end-of-life issues, funeral planning, insurance protection--In our culture we do everything possible to make certain no stone is left unturned, that all the bases have been covered, right up to death.  But what about preparation for the next life?   

The average life expectancy in my home state of Oregon is listed at 79 years of age. Think, for a moment, of the amount of preparation given to the needs of a physical life that may expire before the age of 80.  And there is a major problem--None of those plans and preparations are transferable into the next life.  They have no value there.  This brings up a question for serious thought and consideration.  Since eternity is, well....., it is a long, long time, wouldn't it be prudent for us to prepare for that life with the same perspective, importance, and intent as we prepare for this earthly life?  It seems to me it would be a good idea to make certain we are ready when it is time for that transition to be made.  There is, after all, no turning back and no do-over.

How DOES one prepare for eternity?  While that question has, indeed, been raised,  I do not have a go-to, a how-to answer.  There is no pamphlet or brochure which lists the steps and the processes for that.  The reason is because man cannot prepare himself to meet God. 

This much I know:  The first step is the acknowledgement that God is and of the need to be made ready for the next life, as that life will either be with Him or without Him.  There is nothing more we can do.  The rest is in His hands.  I also know that He will not turn away anyone who comes to Him with sincerity, a genuine desire, and a pure heart.  All it takes is a simple request:  “Prepare me to meet you, God.”

Being prepared and living in the knowledge of that preparation is a gift, a treasure.  Not a single one of us knows when this physical life is coming to an end so, in my thinking, time is always of the essence.  For me, I don't want to go into eternity with regret.

There--I am at the end of my post.  Why do I feel the need to share this and ask for your consideration of this matter?  Because "Eternity is a long, long time," and each one of you matters.

"Life does not consist of an abundance of possessions."  The story is told of a certain rich man who had an abundant harvest.  He said to himself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink, be merry."  The response of Christ was, "You fool.  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?  This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.