Start Now to Die Well

In this moment let us provide for eternity. Out of eternity before, and eternity after, issues this little spot of time to do good in. Let us sow to the Spirit, count all time lost which we either do not or take not, good in. Time is short, but opportunity is shorter. Let us catch all opportunities. This is the time of worship. Oh, let us sow now. Will we go to sowing then when the time comes that we should reap? Some begin to sow when they die, but that is the reaping time. While we have time let us do good to all, but especially to those who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Consider the standings and places that God has set us in; consider the advantages in our hands, the price that we have; consider that opportunity will not stay long. Let us do all the good we can, and so if we do, beloved, we will come at length to reap. If we desire to end our days in joy and comfort, let us lay the foundation of a comfortable death now. To die well is not a thing of that light moment as some imagine: it is no easy matter. But to die well is a matter of every day. Let us daily do some good that may help us at the time of our death. Every day by repentance pull out the sting of some sin, so that when death comes, we may have nothing to do but to die. To die well is the action of the whole life. He never dies well for the most part that dies not daily, as Paul said of himself, ‘I die daily’ (1 Cor. 15:31); he laboured to loosen his heart from the world and worldly things. If we loosen our hearts from the world and die daily, how easy will it be to die at last! He that thinks of the vanity of the world, and of death, and of being with Christ forever, and is dying daily, it will be easy for him to end his days with comfort.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Christ is Best, pp. 57-59
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