It was a Friday afternoon, when I last saw my friend. We were in Grade school, when he died on a Saturday. A day before his death, we were playing, roaming around school grounds, wearing our boy scout uniforms, waiting for our parents to come. Little did I know, it was the last time I’ll see him, next thing I know, we were at his wake. During that time I can still remember thinking about death and how it is very real that even at a young age, it can come.

Death is a topic we don’t usually talk about at the dinner table, we avoid talking about it and thinking about it, as long as we could. But no matter how we avoid it, it is a reality. Today, many people will go to different cemeteries, visiting their loved ones who were first to leave this life. As we remember them, hopefully, we can also pause for a while to think and reflect about death as we should because our view of death will affect how we live our lives. 

Here are three truths about death that we should consider:

Death is a destiny. 

According to a research, 151,600 people die each day. Death is a reality happening everyday, so the real question is really not if we are going to die, but when and how. We cannot escape and avoid death but we can certainly learn from it. There are different ways people prefer to die, but it doesn’t really matter how we die, what matters is how we live our lives. Death is a certainty. The earlier we can accept and embrace it, the better we can face it with peace and confidence and not with fear. 

Death is merely a departure. 

The end of our life here on earth is not the final event, there is a life after. Life does not simply end after our bodies go to rest. If you don’t believe that there’s life after this life then your life here on earth will be without meaning and purpose. But if you believe that this life is not all there is then you can spend it living with hope, that even though this world is full of suffering and pain, there is hope for a better place. That this place is really not our home. When you have God, when we die, we depart but we arrive in a place that is so much better than where we are now. 

Philippians 3:20 – But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Death leads to a decision. 

When we think about death the way we should, it can lead us to evaluate our lives and hopefully make a decision as to how we will continue living it. The idea of death compels us to make a decision. It makes us reflect about our way of living as we ought to. Today is a good time to stop for a while and not only remember our loved ones but to also remind ourselves about the reality of death.

Solomon the wisest person who ever lived said it this way:

Ecclesiastes 7:2 – It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 

The dead could no longer reflect and decide. But for us who are still living, we can actually make a decision. There’s a reason why we are still living, there’s a purpose.

How are you living your life so far? Are you living it the right way? Are you living your purpose?

Our purpose is to live for God. God gave us life so our life belongs to Him. When we trust Jesus Christ, we no longer need to fear death. We can face it with confidence that when our time comes, we will be with Him in a better place. The decision that we need to make today is whether to continue on living this life trusting ourselves and what this fleeting world offers or we start trusting God, and receive the gift He is giving which is a better home in heaven with Him forever. The best time to make this decision is now. Heaven is the best place because it’s where Jesus is.

God’s word has been given to you today so that you can make a decision.

Take this to heart.