I lost a friend this past week. In my mind, she wasn’t old enough to get cancer, but somehow she did anyway, and it was aggressive and mercifully quick. I am sure there are many in this room that have lost friends and loved ones to cancer, it certainly isn’t unusual these days, and for those close to the person dying, it can be devastating. We have all heard the recommendations of those that say we need to prepare, but we often ignore those warnings, because after all it can’t happen to me. So, now hear I sit, just as unprepared as many of you, thinking It can’t happen to me, but we need to realize, that it can.

Preparing for things in our life is something we all do every day. We prepare for work, by preparing for each of the jobs we do. We set the table for dinner. We prepare for bed at night. You know, when we choose someone in our club as a designated driver, that is a form of preparation. We prepare for all kinds of things, almost without even thinking about it. But somehow preparation for not being around to get out of bed tomorrow seems to be beyond our ability or willingness to prepare.

It is not hard to understand. We don’t want to think about our not being here, not getting together with friends and family, not having one more argument with our spouse and the following restoration. But, we do need to remember something;

The lifestyle we live is a dangerous one. While it is by choice that we ride motorcycles, it is only by the Grace of God that we manage to avoid all those blind car and truck drivers out there trying to run us down. Yes we have great skill in riding our bikes, but don’t fool yourself into thinking you will avoid every accident because you are such a good rider.

Which brings me to my final point. That would be preparation for life after this one. We are each given the opportunity to make a decision about where we want to spend eternity after our last earthly motorcycle ride. Some of us have decided we will spend it in the ground as part of the earth. Dust to dust as the Bible says. And, that is certainly true of our bodies, they will be cast off and discarded.

But some of us believe we will receive a new truly immortal body after this life, when we are united with Jesus Christ in heaven. The bible talks about immortal bodies, mansions, crystal seas and many other wonderful things. Of course we could be deluding ourselves, but as the Bible tells us it is about Faith. Believing in things unseen, and unprovable. God has made Himself real and trustworthy in my life. Therefore, I believe what He says about the future. I for one have Faith that God will accept me after this life is over. If you don’t believe in the God of the Bible, or maybe you do, but you have been sitting on that fence of indecision waiting for the right time, maybe today is the day you complete your preparation for what will surely come for all of us. All you need to do is have a conversation with God.*

I want to leave you with these words from Jesus;

John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus has prepared a place for me after this life is over, won’t you come with me?

*If you would like to have that conversation with God, but you don’t know how, please talk to me or one of your brothers that does, after the meeting,