Not often does it catch us off guard when a person who is 99 years old passes away, but that is exactly what happened for many people when beloved actress Betty White died a few days ago. Expectations were high as she approached her 100^th birthday, and big plans were made to celebrate that achievement. However, the popular entertainer passed away just 17 days short of that milestone birthday, leaving fans and friends feeling sad, and perhaps just a bit short-changed. Fellow actor Ryan Reynolds said, “She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough.”

Everyone has an appointment with death. It is our common destiny. Some live to be very old; others die relatively young. But we all have that appointment. For those outside of Christ, it is a dreadful destiny. However, for those who trust in Jesus for their salvation, death is not to be feared.

“Just as 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.