Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you’ll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today’s episode, Death and Priorities, looks at another myth associated with death.

Show Notes: Death and Priorities

Last week, we started looking at myths about death. Myth number two: Thinking about death will spoil your life. Most people, including me, don’t like to talk about death. We’d rather focus on positive conversation and sweep the “D” word under the rug. But God feels differently about the topic. He says in the book of Psalms: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NLT

Father God actually wants us to consider death. To look not only at heaven and the afterlife but to reflect on the last few years, months, days, and moments of our existence.

Why? So that we may grow in wisdom. Hmm. That’s a new angle for me. Reflecting on death may make me wiser.

But how? By teaching us the value of time. If we pretend that we’ll live forever in these earthly bodies, we’ll procrastinate. Why not play the video game for twelve hours? Or binge-watch television all weekend? Or put off visiting your relatives or friends? I mean, we’ve got all the time in the world, right?

Wrong. Our days are numbered. I remember when I turned fifty, how I began to realize life was short. This year, I turned sixty and really wrestled with this birthday. I can’t believe I’m this old. But time has become easier to prioritize because I know there are far fewer days ahead than there are behind.

Jeff Walling says: Though death is an enemy of God, it has a wonderful power for highlighting what’s truly important. The statesman Samuel Johnson said, ‘It’s amazing how it orders a man’s thinking when he discovers he is to be hanged in a fortnight.’”

Priorities. That’s the greatest lesson we learn when we look at death. What are some questions we should contemplate when it comes to end-time thinking?

Am I right with God? Do I have a relationship with the Father or is it just religion?
Am I right with people? Do I hold grudges or unforgiveness against anyone that I need to deal with?
Are my core values—what I believe—in line with God’s word? Does what I do conflict with what God says?
Is what I’m doing in life lining up with God’s plan for me or am I just drifting through? Have I asked God if I’m in His will?
Am I enjoying life? Saint Irenaeus said: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” (ear a nI is_
Have I prepared for the end of life? Have I created a will, considered my last wishes, organized my finances and possessions, and talked to those closest to me about these preparations?

Now, I realize if you are thirty years old or so, number six might not have entered your mind. But the other five questions are ones we should look at from time to time, no matter what our age.

When my father passed away, I wasn’t even thirty years old. His passing was sudden and horrible in every way. But it did teach me some of these important lessons early in life. I learned not to take life for granted, that it was short. Much shorter than I thought. And it helped me to deal with the first five questions more fully than ever before. And that is something I’ve never regretted.

One last word: Don’t become obsessed with death. Reflection can be healthy but obsession never is. God has not given us a spirit of fear but power, love, and a sound mind. If you are struggling in this area, find a safe loved one or therapist to talk over your feelings with. Don’t go it alone!

Let’s pray: Father God, thank you for the life You’ve given us. Please help us to consider death in the right way. Not dwelling morbidly on the negative but prioritizing our life day to day. You alone know when our time on earth will be over so show us how to number our days. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

Reflecting on death in a healthy way will genuinely help us to...