My life’s end has been in my mind for some time, particularly as I approached the age at which my father died of cancer. I’ve now lived longer than my dad ever did, and much longer than one of my brother’s. I lost another brother a few years ago. I’ve found that the prayers in Lutheran Prayer Companion are a great solace, and ever mindful of the end. Particularly each Saturday when we pray:
O my God, this last day of the week reminds me that my life has an end, and I will have to leave it. Therefore, when the day and hour of my death shall come, grant that I may be done with all the sorrows of this life, fall peacefully asleep trusting in the bloody merit of Jesus and, leaving this valley of tears, enter into Your eternal joy and heavenly rest. O Jesus, bloody Lamb of God, in my final distress appear to me as You appeared on the cross when You generously poured out Your blood and died. Uphold me with Your willing Spirit. Heal me with Your wounds. Wash me with the sweat of Your death in my final hour, and when it pleases You take me in true faith from this world to Your elect. O most worthy Savior, on the Last Day be my advocate in God’s strict judgment, and save me in that day because of Your wounds, that I may be found written in the Book of Salvation. Neither will I doubt that You will do so, since You have already judged the enemy and made propitiation for my trespasses. O God the Holy Spirit, do not forsake me, but abide with me constantly until the final moment of my life, and keep Your powerful comfort close at hand to oppose all the tribulations of the evil one. Be my strength in greatest weakness, that my last meal in this world may be the Holy Supper, my last thought to imagine Jesus crucified and dying, my last word may be to call out with my mouth, “Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.” (P. 32)
There is something about praying that each Saturday morning that I find comforting. Although getting other things in order is very important (in fact, my wife and I have even gone through our house more than once with the question: will the kids want to deal with this or that, and gotten rid of much), and estate planning is wise and prudent, yet the ultimate preparation is one of repentance and faith, of prayer and living from Christ’s forgiveness, clothed in His righteousness.