Prepare For Departure

I imagine that most of us have taken a trip during our lives. There is usually excitement and expectation. Children can hardly sleep the night before because they imagine the things that they will do when they get there. Adults look forward to relaxing or seeing family and/or friends. However, before all of that can happen, there must be a reasonable amount of planning and preparing that precedes. Perhaps the trip involves a flight. There must be scheduling that is done. A certain date must be chosen as the day of departure. Not only that, but reservations are often made ahead of time for hotels, dining, car rentals, etc. All of that takes time and effort so that the trip will be an enjoyable one. Now with all of that being the case, let us shift from physical things to spiritual things. All of us are going to to “take a trip” one day. We are going to leave this world behind. Are we excited and expecting Heaven to be our destination? Do we look forward to a great reunion with faithful family and friends? That will not come to pass if we do not make the proper preparations beforehand.

Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul wrote his final, inspired letter. It should not come as a surprise that this letter was written to his “own son in the faith,” Timothy. This letter was different from all other letters that he had written before. He knew that his life would not last much longer on Earth. Therefore he educated and encouraged Timothy as best as he could. Near the end of the epistle, Paul stated, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Please notice carefully that Paul understood that his “trip” was about to commence. The time of his departure was near. As such, Paul was prepared. He had indeed fought a good fight. He had definitely finished his course. He had been a faithful soldier to the very end! What awaited him at the end of his journey was far greater than any destination here on Earth. He would finally be able to rest from his labors.

Now back to us. Have we diligently prepared so that our “trips” will be without problems? Have we studied the Word of God so that we know the things that God commands of us? Paul wrote, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Have we obeyed the commands which have learned? Jesus spoke, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Have we repented of our past sins? Luke wrote, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). Did we confess our faith in who Jesus is before men? The Lord stated, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33). Were we baptized for the remission of sins? “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). If we have not done these things, then we are not ready for departure. We must not hesitate in our preparations. None of us know the day when we will take our “trip”.

If I have made adequate preparations, then I need to make sure that I continue to keep myself prepared. Let us remember that Paul was faithful to the very end. That faithfulness allowed him to be confident when the time of his departure came. We must continue to live faithfully as well. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). We should be active in preaching/teaching to others. We should be worshiping as God prescribes. We should be watching for the Lord’s return. Let us remember that our “reservation” has been made, and we need to be ready to depart when the time comes (1 Pet. 1:3-5).