I have heard that there is an old tombstone in a cemetery in Indiana which bears the following epitaph:

Pause Stranger when you pass me by,

As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be,

So prepare for death and follow me.

An unknown passerby read those words and underneath scratched this reply:

To follow you I’m not content,

Until I know which way you went.

Each one of us has an appointment with death, so we had indeed better be making preparations for that event.

“…people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”—Hebrews 9:27-28

Are you ready? Are you waiting for him?