This week, I want to deal with the subject of death. We're all marching down the road toward death—unless Jesus comes back first—so we should get comfortable with the idea.

Scripture provides many principles and examples for how to prepare spiritually and practically for death. Here are five ways you can start preparing today.

First, learn to discuss death and get the proper attitude toward it. There are some exceptions—like Lazarus, Enoch, and Elijah—but for the general population, "it is appointed for men to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). We're on this earth for a very short time.

Second, get your house in order. In Genesis 23, Abraham purchased a burial plot for his wife. It eventually became the burial place for him and his children as well. Do you have a will or a living trust? Do you have insurance? I know many Christians who think, "I don't need to worry about that." Don't leave someone else, like your children, to worry about it in your place.

Third, resolve strained or broken relationships. Before entering ministry, I worked in the medical field, so I was present in many emergency rooms as someone's loved one died. Relatives would often completely break down when they realized they had arrived too late to make things right. They regretted the last words they had said to their loved one, and the ability to reconcile with them was gone.

Fourth, establish a good network of friendships. If you're a loner or isolated, it’s very difficult to cope when somebody you love dies. But a strong network of believing friends can lift you up and give you strength and encouragement. We all need that kind of support in life.

Fifth, and most importantly, get spiritually prepared to meet your Maker. I still remember praying that familiar childhood prayer, "If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." You may have said that prayer, too. Well, what if you actually die before you wake? Take a moment today to consider whether you're prepared to stand before Holy God on the day of judgment.

I have a photograph of a tombstone from a cemetery on the East Coast. The inscription reads: "Pause, stranger, as 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."

I heard somebody noticed that tombstone and added a sign next to it. The makeshift message said, "To follow you I'm not content, until I know which way you went." Now that's even better!

In Psalm 90:12, Moses said, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Death is something we all need to face. It's an appointment we're all going to keep.

Are you spiritually prepared for that day? If you were to die tonight, are you sure you would find yourself in God's presence, acquitted of all your sins, in right relationship with Him, enjoying heaven forever?

We don't know how long we're going to live, so we must act while we can and receive the only solution for our sins—the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross.

We can only find assurance of resurrected life in glory through His incredible gift.

Do you have that?