FEAR OF DEATH
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Are you afraid to die?
Are you afraid to die?
I believe most people would like to face death unafraid. Many over the years have said this was impossible. Aristotle thought death was to be feared more than anything because “it appears to be the end of everything.” Sartre claimed that death removed all meaning from life. Shakespeare described the afterlife like this in a line from Hamlet: “The dread of something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns.”
I. What Causes Many to Fear Death?
People often fear what they don’t know or understand. None of us have experienced it so we do not know what it will be like. We can’t go by so-called near-death experiences because they are completely unreliable. Even those few who were raised from the dead in the New Testament times didn’t leave a record of it. The unknown is often scary.
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the
examination room and said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what
lies on the other side.”
Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?”
The doctor was holding the handle of the door: On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing… I know my Master is there and that is enough.”
People do not want to leave this world. They do not desire to give it up. “All that a man has he will give for his life.” (Job 2:4) Many become comfortable in the world and enjoy its beauty. Leaving it brings anxiety.
Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
People fear death because they have such little control over it. It cannot be resisted forever. (Hebrews 9:27) Paul says death is our enemy. (I Corinthians 15:26)
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
Some people fear death because they believe that the grave is their final destination. (Job 7:7-10)
“Remember that my life is but breath; My eye will not again see good.
“The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer; Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
“When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.
“He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know him anymore.
II. What does fear of death keep us from?
ministering during this time of pandemic, it keeps us from being good neighbors, it keeps us from comforting people that are hurting, it keeps us from fellowship, it keeps us from helping others
gathering with the saints
sharing the gospel in dangerous places to dangerous people
makes us spend so much of our time here on earth trying to avoid it
III. Should I fear death? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
We will all die unless Jesus comes back first. It’s inevitable
“ Death is a part of all our lives. Whether we like it or not, it is bound to happen. Instead of avoiding thinking about it, it is better to understand its meaning. We all have the same body, the same human flesh, and therefore we will all die. There is a big difference, of course, between natural death and accidental death, but basically death will come sooner or later. If from the beginning your attitude is 'Yes, death is part of our lives,' then it may be easier to face.
“
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Jesus became flesh to destroy him who had the power of death and to destroy our fear of death. It should no longer hold us in fear.
Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
we must put on the imperishable
God gives is the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
we will live even if we die. Death is not final
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
While I’m here, I am to try to follow Christ’s footsteps, but death, whenever and however it comes, is to be viewed as gain. Do we believe that? Do we act like we believe it?
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
Do you realize we are not guaranteed tomorrow? No matter what you do? you may never see the eradication of this virus, you may never have the opportunity to take a vaccine. You may never have a chance to gather with the saints again. you may never have a chance to hug your loved ones, to comfort those in need, to bring someone to Christ. You aren’t guaranteed that you will be able to fellowship and share the body and blood of the Lord with God’s children a year from now. But you can this Sunday. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, but instead to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33-34).
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We have work to do. While we wait for our favorable conditions, the work remains waiting for us. Christian service cannot be accomplished in a setting in which we are not seeing each other face to face. When’s the last time any of us obeyed 1 Peter 4:9 – “Be hospitable to one another without complaining”? How long are we going to be okay with blowing off Acts 2’s example of gathering together, praying together, learning together, and serving each other together? Were we “loving our neighbors” by isolating them into depression and possible suicide?
We simply are not being the church if we are not making disciples and fellow-shipping with one another. Our response has robbed us of our identity and told the world that we’re just as focused on this life and afraid of death as they are.
With a knowledge of how beautiful and horrific eternity can be, a world at risk should motivate us to far greater activity, not lesser. Worship is too important. Fellowship is too important. Evangelism is too important. Disciple making is too important. Service is too important. It’s time to get back to work.
It’s pretty hard for the body to go to work when all its parts are separated.
Is the fear of death leading you to make decisions that are detrimental to you faith?
Is the fear of death leading you to make decisions that are detrimental to the spreading of the gospel?
is the fear of death leading you to make decisions that are detrimental to Loving and serving your neighbor?
Is the fear of death leading you to make decisions that are detrimental the life of the church?
