Living By Faith Blog

Fear of dying

If you felt a strange pain, had some tests, then heard you had two weeks to live — how would you feel?

If we are honest — we’ll admit that we’d be afraid.

There’s lots of reasons we fear dying —

• We can fear facing God
• We can fear losing what we have here on earth
• We can fear the pain involved in dying
• We can fear for the well-being of loved-ones left behind

Any of those could fill us with fear.

Which is why it’s so shocking to read —

How Paul felt about dying

Here’s what he said —

My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  Phil 1:23

Paul did not fear dying.  He welcomed the thought of dying — because it would bring him to Christ.

Of course, he did not seek death.  He knew that as long as he was alive, God had a purpose for him on earth.

But as he lived that purpose — he had no fear of death.  At all.

How is that possible?

It’s because of what we read in Hebrews 2:14-15 —

Jesus partook of flesh and blood … that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Because of our sin, God justly gave the devil the power of death over us.

So — before we trusted Christ — we knew (deep down inside) that we would face the devil who held our death in his sadistic, evil hands.  And we knew that our physical death would lead to being punished by God forever for our sin.

And so we were enslaved by fear of death.

Not that we all constantly feared death.  But we all constantly tried not to think about death — and when we did, we worked hard to to believe it meant nothingness or going to a better place.

The fear of death enslaved us to ignoring our fear of death.

But Jesus can deliver us

Hebrews 2 says Jesus can deliver those who are enslaved by fear of death.

How?  Jesus partook of flesh and blood so He could die on the Cross.

And by dying, Jesus made propitiation for our sins — as we read in Heb 2:16 —

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might … make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Propitiation means satisfying God’s wrath.  Because of our sin, God justly felt wrath against us.  And this wrath had to be satisfied — expressed — poured out.

And if you are trusting Jesus, then when He died on the Cross God took the wrath He felt against you and poured it out on Jesus.

Which means that God no longer has any wrath against you.  NONE.

From now on God’s heart towards you is only love, compassion, mercy, and goodness — forever.

But what about the devil’s power to kill me?

Jesus unplugged the devil’s power

Remember Hebrews 2:14-15 —

Jesus partook of flesh and blood … that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

It’s like the devil’s power of death was plugged into the outlet of God’s wrath.

As long as God felt wrath toward me — the devil had power to kill me.

But when Jesus satisfied God’s wrath against me — He unplugged the devil’s power.

Not that believers won’t die.  But now our deaths are in God’s hands — not the devil’s hands.

Huge difference.

You used to look ahead and see that your death was in the evil and malicious hands of the devil.

But now you look ahead and see that your death is in the loving and merciful hands of God.

And when we see that our deaths are in God’s loving hands — we are freed from fear.

How?

Four reasons —

We don’t need to fear God’s wrath, because Jesus propitiated God’s wrath.

You may understand that Jesus did this — but still wonder if it applies to you.

So how can you be sure?

By turning to trust Jesus Christ right now.

Turn from whatever you used to trust to satisfy you — and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, your Lord, and your all-satisfying Treasure.

When you do that you can know you are saved — because we are saved by faith in Christ, and only saved people have faith in Christ.

So you can be certain that when you die you will awake to see God the Father running to you with joy.

We don’t need to fear losing what we have on earth — because Jesus is our all-satisfying Treasure.

Because you trust Jesus, you have times when He makes His glory so real — so satisfying — that you desire nothing else.

So you know by experience that He is your ALL-satisfying Treasure.

Therefore — since death brings you more of Him — you don’t need to fear missing anything here on earth.

Would you miss your toy cars while driving the Porsche?

We don’t need to fear the pain of dying — because Jesus will be with us.

Because you are trusting Jesus, when you die you won’t be alone.

He will be there to help you.  He will strengthen your faith — comfort you through the suffering — give you all the help you need.

And then — it will be over.  You will see Him face to face.

So — don’t fear.

We don’t need to fear  for our loved-ones — because Jesus will help them.

Your wife who trusts Jesus won’t be left alone.  Jesus will be there for her.

Same with your husband and children.

Everyone who trusts Jesus will receive all the help — comfort — strength — provision they need.

Picture all your loved-ones in Jesus’ strong, loving, comforting hands — and don’t fear.

Two weeks to live

Imagine hearing that you have two weeks to live — and feeling absolutely no fear.

That’s what Jesus has won for you.

So trust Him — and don’t fear.

Thoughts?  Comments?  Feedback?

I’d love to hear — leave a reply below.  Thanks.

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And here’s some related posts you might find helpful —

• What Is The Peace Of Christ?
• What Happened When You Believed And What Difference It Makes (4-min video)
• How To Extinguish Every One Of Satan's Flaming Darts
• "You're Beautiful" -- 5-min Worship Video

(Picture from everystockphoto by takomabibelot.)