There’s a date on your calendar that you haven’t seen yet.
It’s not marked with a star or scribbled in red. You won’t find a reminder for it in your phone. But it’s there—the day you will take your final breath.
Some will hear death approaching like the slow chug of a train, rounding the bend with time to prepare. Others will experience it as a collision—unexpected and violent—no warning, no goodbye. In medicine, I’ve seen both.
And then there’s Michael.
He was in his 40s, on dialysis, clinging to the hope of a transplant. For a year and a half, I watched him live in fear. He checked his phone constantly for transplant updates. He avoided his family, lost weight, lost sleep, and worked himself to exhaustion—all in fear of dying.
But he didn’t die from kidney failure.
Michael fell asleep behind the wheel one early morning and veered into the path of an eighteen-wheeler. He died instantly. He spent two years preparing for the wrong death. And he never truly lived.
Friend, what are you spending your life preparing for?
The goal of Anticipating Heaven isn’t to scare anyone into faith. It’s to encourage you to live with intention. Because the reality is—tomorrow is not guaranteed. But today is still yours.
There are three ways we can all start living with the end in mind:
1. Spiritual Preparation
More than anything else, this determines your legacy. My faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t just give me hope—it gives me confidence. Confidence that my last breath here is the beginning of a new chapter in heaven.
If you’re unsure about your eternal destination, start here: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13
Sharing your spiritual story with your loved ones is one of the greatest gifts you can offer.
2. Practical Preparation
This includes everything from living wills to digital logins to training your spouse or children in the roles you typically carry. It’s a form of love.
If you need help getting started, I highly recommend the free Planning for Peace checklist. It breaks the process down simply and helps ensure your end-of-life wishes are honored.
3. Legacy Preparation
A good death is about more than paperwork—it’s about how you live today. What story are you telling with your life? How are you loving, serving, forgiving, and creating meaning?
Romans 8:28 reminds us: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Your purpose isn’t on pause until retirement. It’s right now. Start living the story you want to be remembered by.
A well-planned death leads to a well-lived life. Don’t wait for a diagnosis to get your house in order—spiritually, practically, or emotionally.
Live today like it matters. Because it does.
