Death comes without warning. How do we stay prepared each day? Read these 10 meditations from The Imitation of Christ to ready your heart for Heaven and enjoy the peace of a happy death, no matter the time or circumstance.
1. It’s Better to Die Than to Sin
Very quickly must thou be gone from hence, see then how matters stand with thee; a man is here today and tomorrow he is vanished. (1 Mach. 2:63).
And when he is taken away from the sight he is quickly also out of mind. Oh, the dullness and hardness of man’s heart, which only thinks of what is present, and looks not forward to things to come.
Thou oughtst in every action and thought so to order thyself as if thou wert immediately to die. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not much fear death. It were better for thee to fly sin than to be afraid of death. (Dan. 13:23). If thou art not prepared today how shalt thou be tomorrow? Tomorrow is an uncertain day; and how dost thou know that thou shalt be alive tomorrow? (James 4:14).
2. A Long Life Can Undo Our Spiritual Progress
What benefit is it to live long when we advance so little? Ah, long life does not always make us better, but often adds to our guilt! Would to God we had behaved ourselves well in this world even for one day! Many count the years of their conversion; but oftentimes the fruit of amendment is but small.
If it be frightful to die, perhaps it will be more dangerous to live longer. Blessed is he that has always the hour of death before his eyes and every day disposes himself to die. (Ecclus. 7:40). If thou hast at any time seen a man die think that thou must also pass the same way.
3. Each Day Could Be Your Last
In the morning imagine that thou shalt not live till night; and when evening comes presume not to promise thyself the next morning. Be therefore always prepared, and live in such a manner that death may never find thee unprovided. Many die suddenly and when they little think of it: “Because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.” (Matt. 24:44).
When that last hour shall come thou wilt begin to have quite other thoughts of thy whole past life; and thou wilt be exceedingly grieved that thou hast been so negligent and remiss. (Wis. 5:6).
4. The Virtuous Man Has the Happiest Death
How happy and prudent is he who strives to be such now in this life as he desires to be found at his death. For it will give a man a great confidence of dying happily if he has a perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire of advancing in virtue, a love for discipline, the spirit of penance, a ready obedience, self-denial, and patience in bearing all adversities for the love of Christ.
Thou mayest do many good things whilst thou art well, but when thou art sick I know not what thou wilt be able to do. Few are improved by sickness; so too they that travel much abroad seldom become holy.
5. Don’t Delay Your Conversion
Trust not in thy friends and relations, nor put off the welfare of thy soul to hereafter; for men will sooner forget thee than thou imaginest. It is better now to provide in time, and send some good before thee, than to trust to the help of others after thy death. (Matt. 6:20). If thou art not now careful for thyself who will be careful for thee hereafter?
The present time is very precious; “Now is the acceptable time: now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). But it is greatly to be lamented that thou dost not spend this time more profitably in which thou mayest acquire wherewith to live forever. The time will come when thou wilt wish for one day or hour to amend, and I know not whether thou shalt obtain it.
6. Despise All Fleeting Things
O my dearly beloved, from how great a danger mayest thou deliver thyself! from how great a fear mayest thou be freed if thou wilt but now be always fearful and looking for death! Strive now so to live that in the hour of thy death thou mayest rather rejoice than fear. Learn now to die to the world that then thou mayest begin to live with Christ. (Rom. 6:8). Learn now to despise all things that then thou mayest freely go to Christ. Chastise thy body now by penance that thou mayest then have an assured confidence. (1 Cor. 9:27).
7. Death Comes When Least Expected
Ah fool, why dost thou think to live long when thou art not sure of one day? (Luke 12:20). How many thinking to live long have been deceived and unexpectedly snatched away! How often hast thou heard related that such a man was slain by the sword; another drowned; another falling from on high broke his neck; this man died at the table; that other came to his end when he was at play. Some have perished by fire, some by the sword, some by pestilence, some by robbers: and thus death is the end of all, and man’s life passeth suddenly like a shadow. (Eccles. 7:1).
8. Do Not Think You Will Be Remembered
Who will remember thee when thou art dead, and who will pray for thee? Do now, beloved, do now all thou canst, because thou knowest not when thou shalt die; nor dost thou know what shall befall thee after death. Whilst thou hast time heap to thyself riches that will never die! (Matt. 6:20). Think of nothing but thy salvation, care for nothing but the things of God. Make now to thyself friends, by honoring the saints of God, and imitating their actions, that when thou shalt fail in this life they may receive thee into everlasting dwellings. (Luke 16:9).
9. Remember Heaven Is Our True Home
Keep thyself as a pilgrim, and a stranger upon earth, to whom the affairs of this world do not in the least belong. (1 Ptr. 2:11). Keep thy heart free and raised upwards to God, because thou hast not here a lasting abode. Send thither thy daily prayers, with sighs and tears, that after death thy spirit may be worthy to pass happily to Our Lord. Amen.
10. The Secret to a Happy Death
To fear death, and not to avoid sin, which alone can make it really terrible, is to fear it unavailably for salvation; for, as Christians, we ought to dread it so as to make the fear of it the motive and rule of a good life.
The great secret of dying happily is to live always in the same state in which we hope to die, and in which we desire that God may find us when our last hour shall have arrived. We should therefore do all the good and practice all the virtues now which we shall then wish to have done and practiced.
Endeavor to die daily to some one of all those things which, when thou departest hence, thou must leave forever. Happy the Christian who dies often in spirit ere he quits the flesh. His death shall be holy and precious in the sight of God.
Prayer
Knowing that I shall certainly die, but ignorant of the day, of the hour, and of the state of my soul, in which I shall depart hence, I beseech Thee, most blessed Saviour, by the merits of Thy sacred Passion, to prepare me for that awful moment. Assist me to become diligent in my employments, faithful to Thy graces, attentive at my prayers, regular in frequenting the Sacraments, and constant in the performance of those good works, and in the practice of those virtues which are proper for my state: that so, through Thy merits, I may experience consolation in my last moments, and leave this valley of tears in the assured hope of salvation.
Grant that I may ever persevere in Thy grace, seek in all things to please Thee, and breathe only Thy love: for living thus, my Jesus, by Thee, for Thee, and like unto Thee, it will be at all times most advantageous for me to die, that I may never offend Thee more, but see, love, and enjoy Thee for all eternity. Amen.
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This article is taken from a chapter in The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis which is available from TAN Books.
