Rehearsing the occasion of one’s death is a smart thing for any person to do as that which awaits beyond the grave is eternity… the realm that few yearn for right now or the realm that most will forever dread. The eternal destination of every person is an individual free-will choice, not God’s! On the Day of Judgment, Jesus, the Judge, will action the final decision made by every person prior to their death concerning Him… a decision that will either see them welcomed them into Heaven, or thrown into hell. Eternity’s destination is your choice and mine to make while time permits, in the here and now!

Underscoring the teaching of the Old Testament, God, the Father, sent His Son, Jesus, to convince and convict the world that death is the consequence of our sins (Rom. 3:23). Jesus taught and modelled that death is not the end, and is not an event to fear! Why? Through God’s provision we can look forward to the occasion of our death with a spirit of hope, peace, and celebration. Yes, death is not the end! Solomon testified that God has planted eternity in the human heart (Ecc. 3:11).

OK… You’ve been patient with me long enough. Following are several simple death-rehearsal steps I find helpful. I have listed them in two categories, Faith and Practice:

FAITH steps…

1. I rehearse the belief that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him (Jn. 14:6); 2. I rehearse the belief that Jesus’ death on the cross paid in full my debt of sin (Col. 1:20); 3. I rehearse the belief that Jesus overcame the grave on my behalf and that death no longer has a hold on me; 4. I rehearse the belief in the resurrection of the dead; 5. I rehearse the belief that I BELONG to God and I HAVE eternal life… “He who has the Son, has life. He who doesn’t have the Son does not have life” (1 Jn. 5:11-12).

The Apostle Paul affirmed that death is conquered by the resurrection of the body. He said… Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man (1 Cor. 15:42-49). Amen! What an encouraging passage of truth to aid us in our death-rehearsals!

PRACTICE steps…

As true faith is “evidenced” by right actions, I submit the following evidence of actions my wife and I have taken, and continue to take, in the rehearsing of our death:

1. By choice, we are no longer property owners. Long ago, our previously held real estate interests were legally assigned to our children; 2. We’ve chosen and paid for our burial plots in a nearby lawn cemetery (including associated funeral service expenses); 3. I have prepared a draft eulogy of my life; 4. Our existence is simple, basic, and debt-free … desiring nothing of this world (1 Jn. 2:15); 5. Daily, we consecrate our lives to God, availing ourselves to go and do whatever, wherever and whenever He wishes (Matt. 7:21); 6. We live as conscientious witnesses of Christ before our family, friends, acquaintances… the whole world! (Acts 1:8); 7. We live “at the ready” for our Heavenly call.

Friends, my earthly affairs are in order and at any moment I am ready to move ahead with my life into eternity. However, until I receive my upward call, I continue to happily and enthusiastically live serving God with my whole life during every waking moment, and keenly practice rehearsing the occasion of my death most days at sleep time. I am glad for my temporal life but I am more excited and grateful for the gift of eternal life I possess, in Christ.

Jesus who has power over death and the grave one day said to a crowd of mourners, “The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep” (Mk. 5:39).

Best wishes
Bill