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If you visit some of the old New England churches, you’ll notice that many of them have a cemetery in the churchyard. The windows in the sanctuary are filled with clear rather than stained glass so that the pastor would see the graveyard as he preached. As he communicated his message to the congregation, a very serious message was being communicated to him.

Two hundred fifty years ago, Christians believed that the central mission of the church was to bring men and women into a right relationship with God. That’s why they constructed their church buildings with see-through windows. They wanted their pastors to be continually re-minded of the seriousness of their calling. Everyone who sat in the pews before them each Sunday would eventually fill a place in the cemetery and ultimately stand before God to be judged.

The preacher of Ecclesiastes also lived with the reality of death. He argued that it is better to go to a funeral than to a birthday party, because when we think about death we deal with the bedrock issues of our lives.

Only those who’ve trusted in Christ for eternal life can live well—because they’re prepared to die.

Considering mortality
Gives life the proper view;
Preparing for eternity
Is the wisest thing to do. —Sper

You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die

-haddon w robinson