J.I. Packer says, ““Readiness to die is the first step in learning to live.”

Counterintuitive? Perhaps. Our culture likes to ignore death, defy death, artificially prolong death.

Better: Prepare for death.

The Christian story claims that Death is an enemy–an unnatural separation of our body from our soul. A consequence of human rebellion against the One who gave us life.

Kindly, He redeems by sending his Son to conquer death through His death and resurrection.

If we are joined to Him by faith, we can be resurrected someday–when He returns.

If you believe this–that death isn’t the end; that you’ll live forever–it releases you from the slavish fear of death, which is so often a brutal taskmaster.

So, let’s make our arrangements. And really learn how to live.