The local news network reported last week that a young man was killed. He was sitting in a home playing video games with friends when a stray bullet from a would-be intruder’s pistol ended his life.

Another report told of three motorcyclists killed when a driver momentarily lost control of his automobile.

Then just yesterday, news came from a friend that a loved one of theirs who went to sleep, never woke up.

Though difficult to face, such deaths are perfectly normal. Statistically, over 100 people die worldwide every minute. How many would you suppose have died since you began reading this article?

I wonder how many of the statistically 153,000 people who will die today woke up thinking, “Today will be the day”. I know I didn’t. How about you?

It can happen so fast, and when we least expect it. It will happen to you, and it will happen to me. Historically, the death rate for humans has always been 100%.

Morbid? Not in view of Jesus’ provision for us. Because of what he did, we don’t have to fear death. He conquered death for our sakes, rising victoriously from his grave. God wanted to do us good, so his son, Jesus, “tasted death” for each one of us as Hebrews 2:9 says.

Beyond this world, God has prepared a place of “comfort” with Abraham, as Jesus described it (Luke 16:25), and “Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43), as well as an entire kingdom specifically for us that he made ready before the world was put in place (see Matthew 25:34 & 46).

As God prepared a place for us, we can be prepared for him to take us:

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…… And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise”, Galatians 3:26-27 & 29