“In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.”” (Isaiah 38:1, ESV)
The Lord had spoken to Hezekiah that his life was soon to end and that he should get his affairs in order. If you know the record, Hezekiah prayed, and the Lord added fifteen years to his life. Even with the additional fifteen years, getting affairs in order is still a pertinent issue.
This is not a pleasant subject to discuss, but one we must consider. Regardless of advances in medical technology and our phase of life, ultimately the days of our lives are in the Lord’s hands. He holds the keys to life and death. None of us, whether we have serious illness or are in perfect health, has an idea what tomorrow will bring. James said it quite well, life is but a mist (James 4:14).
The principle here is this. Since we do not know what tomorrow will bring, it behooves us to get our lives and affairs in order. There are two main thoughts here. One has to do with us and the other has to do with those we might leave behind.
First, as it relates to us, we need to be ready to meet the Lord. As a young man, I never really considered the issue of death. I felt somehow that I was invincible. However, over my lifetime I have known many young people who, in our estimation, prematurely left this life. Many died without any warning. Some of these were not prepared to face eternity because they had never committed their lives to Christ. Each person must ask this question. “Am I ready to face the judgment? Have I truly trusted in Christ and His death on the cross where He paid the penalty of my sin, which is my only hope of escaping the judgment for sin?” I encourage each person to consider eternity.
Second, as it relates to those we leave behind, we need to make sure we have done the best to arrange for their wellbeing. Years ago, my sister-in-law was in the final days of her life. At that time, I remember speaking with my brother regarding this and he let me know that he and his wife had discussed the final arrangements regarding a service, etc. However, there are many more things in our society that we must consider. These include estate planning, survivor income, medical decisions, etc. For us as believers, we know that our departure leads us to heaven, where there will be no concerns or issues. The issue is not with us. The issue is the wellbeing of those we leave behind. We must exercise due diligence in these matters for their sake.
What must we conclude? We do not know the length of our days, only God does. Therefore, we need to be ready. We need to put our house in order.
Renewing the Heart 