For Him to Die was Gain

During Sunday's visit to Holden Chapel, we located the gravestone of Rev. John Dean, pastor of Salem Chapel, Martin Top. He was buried at Holden rather than his own church because we had not then our own grave yard. I was however, struck by his age- he died aged 36, my own age. We cannot know when death will come knocking, or when God will demand back from us our soul, as He did with the rich farmer in Luke's parable. We need to be as prepared for death as we are for life: live as though we might die tomorrow, but die knowing we'll live forever.