In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as King, I solemnly urge you to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience. The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends. But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. And now there is waiting for me the prize of victory awarded for a righteous life, the prize which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day – and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Aren’t you tired of people who tell you to plan for what would happen to your family, IF you should die? The reality is simple. IF is not an option. You will die. So what will happen to your family WHEN you die? Will they accept Christ, or have they already accepted Him? Will they see you again? Will you see them again?

Only if we are ready to die are we ready to live.

Our Daily Bread – March 13, 2003