Aging Well
Facing Death with Courage

1. Worship can be your primary occupation at the time of death. When you close your eyes for the last time in this present world, you will open them in heaven, where you will witness the most wonderful worship. You will be glad you finished out your earthly life doing the same thing as the saints in heaven. Perhaps in your final days, those of your inner Christian circle can stand at your bed and worship in song and prayer. And you can always listen to your favorite recorded songs of the faith. See Worship God Together

2. Let Jesus take your hand in the last days of your life. Look forward to following Him to heaven. With Jesus leading you, there is no need for fear. Remember when you were a little child and someone told you to cover your eyes and take his or her hand in order to lead you to a surprise? Have this same wonderful anticipation in death. See Together Be Led by Jesus Christ

3. As you near the end of your earthly journey, tell God in prayer how you long to be with Him in heaven and then in a resurrected body in the new earth. Look forward to it as you did when you were going to travel to see your children and grandchildren. You told them you were excited to come. Have this same attitude about your trip through death to heaven, and tell God of your anticipation. See Communicate with God Together 

4. Meditate on how you belong to Jesus and to all His other people. Soon, after death, you will belong to all of God’s people in heaven. They will be of every nation; imagine how interesting it will be. In the new earth, you’ll have a chance to interact with people from all over the world and from thousands of years ago. What a thrill awaits us all after we pass through the portal of death and eventually have our bodies resurrected to new life. See Belong to One Another

5. If there is anyone at all whom you have not forgiven, this is the time to do it. When death is near, what good is it to hold on to resentment and hurt? What good has it been to hold on to it for these years? Forgive and finally set yourself free from unforgiveness that has lasted too long. See Forgive One Another Without Being Asked

6. As you begin letting go of this world, be sure to place courage into your loved ones to live for Christ, no matter how difficult that may be. In our last days, many will listen to us more than they ever have before. A dying person is living with one foot in heaven, and others will see great faith, which will make them brave for the life they still face. See Encourage One Another

7. How you die can be great discipleship. Those who see that you are certain of life after death — and that you look forward to a never-ending glorious, physical life in a new earth — will learn how to not be afraid of death and the end of this phase of life. See Disciple One Another

8. In order to bolster your hope, call to your side those Christians who have been your closest friends and relatives and have shown a strong certainty about their hope of resurrection. Ask them to review all of God’s promises regarding life after death. Don’t let those whose faith is weak and are uncertain about salvation and everlasting life feed your doubt. See Preserve One Another’s Hope

9. With the help of others, remember all that you know about heaven and the new earth from the Bible. This is your destiny. As you might view a travel video before a trip to a luxurious Caribbean island, think often about heaven, the new earth and its promise of God’s unveiled presence, beauty, peace and adventure. See Hold to the Truth Together