And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment. Hebrews 9:27 (ASV).

Read more: Death: Are You Insured?

Death is not something that we consider a lot in our modern times. There is this notion that we have long to live, hence, we live our lives without any thought that there is an appointment with death which cannot be rescheduled. Our theme Scripture says, “It is appointed for a man to die once.” Death can’t be done by proxy, it is something everyone must go through. So, how prepared are you?

How do we define death from a theological point of view? It is the separation of the body and the soul, a state that was not part of God’s original design but a consequence of human sin. Even after physical death, the soul continues to exist. Death therefore, is the cessation of bodily life – separation of the spirit from the body.

Watch this, death is a general rule for all mankind [pause and calmly think]. Now that you know this general rule, how then should we live our lives? Ephesians 5:17 helps us answer the question, “Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” What is His will? The Bible says, “And He said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Read Matthew 22:37. In other words, the entirety of our human existence is meant to love the Lord! It speaks of completeness or wholeness. Listen to this, “I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12. The Bible says, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Read Matthew 4:4.

The Bible says, “For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? For what should a man give in exchange for his life?” Read Mark 8:36-37. Our days on this earth was already determined by God, hence, the Bible says, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” Psalm 36:9. Listen to this, “Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; and in thy book they were all written, even the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:16. Beloved, God knew our beginning, and He most definitely knows our end! He is the God of the past, present and future. The sum total of our very existence are in His hands.

Death is inevitable. Therefore, it is critically important that we live our lives wisely in light of this reality. The Scriptures helps us to see the need to love God wholeheartedly, and to ultimately understand that God determines our days and knows our life’s beginning and end.

Our Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of life. The Bible says, “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Read Acts 17:28a.

We write. You read. Be encouraged.