I dreamed that I died...

I was driving the family minivan over streets plagued with potholes like a disease. Many of them were full of water, and puddles were everywhere. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy, the area abandoned and lifeless.
Earlier, I had begun to plan a trip to an island to tell the natives about Jesus. I was looking for something I needed, but I don't remember what it was. And then there was a very large puddle. I hit the brakes, since it was at an intersection and I would rather drive through it slowly anway. But I couldn't come to a complete stop before the puddle and the car tipped in. The water got darker the deeper I sank, and I did not have thoughts of escape. I am going to die, I thought. They say your life flashes before your eyes when you are dying, but I only sat calmly as I quickly thought about how unfortunate it was that no one would ever find the car, or me, and my family and friends would forever wonder what had happened. I was not afraid, or sad or panicked, because death didn't frighten me. The darkness swallowed me and I awoke. I only regretted that I hadn't been able to complete the island mission trip I was planning.

Now, I don't think this was an especially meaningful dream, but I was intrigued because I had never died in a dream before. And it could have been a bit of a wake-up call, because during my literal waking up I regretted not having completed the mission trip.
One of these days, I really am going to die or something. Maybe in eighty years, maybe in eighty minutes. I really can't know, but people need to hear about Jesus.

I don't know if my reaction to dying would be exactly the same as it was in the dream, but I kind of hope it is. Death is nothing to fear. Death isn't the end, it's almost a beginning, you know? Eternity is so big and the hundred years or whatever we've got here is so short in comparison, a brief prelude. And yet, it's so important.

This life is where we learn of God, and decide to follow Him or not. I know God has wonderful things in store for His children, and they're so much better than this. And this life I have now can still be pretty awesome! But I don't think I would be too sad to leave it when it's time.

However, my death is not mine to decide. My life here is what I choose to live to honor the God who gave it to me, and He can take it when He sees fit. And then there is eternity, life longer than life, because it's forever.

Because of Jesus, and the salvation He gives us, I have nothing to fear in eternity.

That is why the idea of death doesn't scare me. I commonly have thoughts along the lines of "the worst that could happen is that I could die." This doesn't make me do risky things often (mostly because while death doesn't scare me, severe injury doesn't sound fun), but it gives me a freedom in life and an ability to be carefree and lighthearted.

I've rambled a lot here, but I guess my point is that death doesn't have to be a scary thing, when you've got Jesus. Personally, however, when my time comes, I hope I die of healthy old age, or while doing something crazy awesome, or just instantly so that I don't have time to feel the pain. :]