Many people say that we have to prepare for our death. We have to 'get right with God', or 'fix our ways'. We have to clean ourselves up for God and make sure we're in good standing to be brought into heaven with him forever. What do we have to do to get ready for our death? What do we have to make sure we do before Jesus returns? God does not require you to clean up your life or do anything to be 'good enough' for him. You don't need to have it all sorted and figured out—in fact, you can't. But Jesus has it figured out for us. Jesus has chosen us as the firstfruits to be saved. We are his own beloved children. All we who have faith 'need' to do, is trust in God's promises, and stand firm in the faith passed down to us. We prepare for the end by trusting in Jesus' promises, standing firm in the faith, and live as he has called us to in that faith.

We are often anxious about the details of the end. Not only details of our own death, but details about the end of all things. We often want to look for signs and indications that the end is coming and is near. We think we can pinpoint the time either generally or specifically of Jesus' return, or we grow anxious and worried about what that end will be like. No one knows the day of his death. Jesus tells us that no one will know when he returns, not even him, only the Father. Yet, we don't have to be afraid of the end, because Jesus' words, his promises, they will not pass away. Even though things may be difficult until then, we don't have to worry, because Jesus will come and welcome us who are awake in faith, into eternal life with him. We don't have to worry about when the end will come, because we know where we are going, we know Jesus' promises, and we know that his promises will never pass away.

Death is scary. It's the great unknown. We don't know what it will be like, what it will feel like. What we will see. What we will be like. Death is a slow, painful process, and we largely don't know what's coming up on the other side. Our sin has caused death to enter into this world. Death is a negative consequence of our sin, and while we know it's not right, we don't what what it will be like. We do know at least one thing. We know that we will be with Jesus. Just as Jesus said to the thief on the cross, we know it's also true for us. We will be with Jesus in paradise. Our suffering will cease. Our pain will be no more. We will no longer be afflicted by sin and suffering in our bodies and our lives. We don't have all the details, but we do have Jesus' promises. Jesus has saved us from death, so that we do not have to fear death, experience eternal suffering, but we will be with Jesus in paradise.