Was your first thought about this title getting right, repenting, and/or somehow pleasing God? These can be appropriate considerations in certain circumstances, but think about what Yeshua has done and been doing throughout our lives, then we take our last breath and give up our sprit to God as Yeshua did on the cross. He tracked us down and at our time of need, openness and/or desperation He showed up, to our shock, surprise and relief. It might not have been as dramatic as Paul experienced on the road to Damascus, but it was just as sufficient as Paul’s was necessary. That was the start of something planned before the world was created. (Eph. 1:4) It changed much, incrementally, subtly, certainly and unquestionably as evidenced by all that later happened. In time the Holy Spirit was imparted to us with a measure which God determined, but also given without limit. That was a rebirth into the Spirit realm which guarantees our position in Heaven. (2 Cor. 1:22)
Fast forward to our imminent death and let’s review our preparation to meet Yeshua face to face. We are His workmanship. (Eph. 2:10) This is time to look back at all He did, battling/defeating the enemy; redeeming us when we wandered off path; being used of Him in His work on earth, consecrating us, and a myriad of other interactions, encounters, duties, acts of mercy, and regularly forgiving and being forgiven. If at the end of our life we think we are something, it is a time to see that we were loved, but are merely a lamb in the Lord’s sheepfold.
Our perspective should be like Peter and the Apostles, who saw Yeshua on the beach and listened to His direction to catch a boat load of fish when they were up all night without finding anything. (John 21:4-12 Oh, this seems familiar! Yeshua did this once before when we first met Him. (Luke 5:4-10) Now, we know it’s Him, but He somehow looks different being the risen King of Heaven. This is preparation for meeting Yeshua again, acknowledging all He has done in our life, admitting that it is His mercy, loving kindness, redemption, grace and righteousness that makes us and brought us to know Him and be ready to meet Him.
It is too late for presumption, passed time to be more obedient, too late for any act of repentance, and if at the passing of our entire lifetime we have not developed a relationship with the one who found us, nurtured, protected, watched over and molded us into His own image, we can at least prepare to give thanks. (1 Thess. 5:18)
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