The headlines of our local newspaper stated the grim facts:
“Death toll reaches 2 million.”
The article then began with these haunting words: “The global death toll from COVID-19 passed 2 million on Friday, crossing the threshold amid a vaccine rollout so immense but so uneven that in some countries there is real hope.” to beat the outbreak, while in other, less developed parts of the world, it seems like a distant dream.
How do you react to news like that?
Do you ever think about death? It’s been in the news for the past year in a way I’ve never seen in my life. We hear it constantly. The media keep telling us, every day, how many people died the day before.
It is also one of the main themes of the Bible. “Men are destined to die once, and then to be judged” (Hebrews 9:27).
Jesus spoke of death repeatedly. “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am, you will surely die in your sins” (John 8:24).
The purpose of this article is to ask you a simple question: Are you afraid of dying?
The fear of death is a common experience. It is part of the human condition. But thank God, Jesus came to save us both from death itself and from the fear of death.
“Since children have flesh and blood, he also partook of their humanity so that by his death he could break the power of the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who were held captive all their lives. in bondage for fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
According to the Scriptures, many people are slaves to the fear of death. wow. That’s quite a statement. And the events of the past year bear witness to that reality, don’t they?
And you? Are you afraid of dying? I ask that question because I care about you and your eternal destiny.
The amazing truth of the verses quoted above is What Jesus frees us from the fear of death. Did you catch the catchphrase? “By his death.” It is through his own death that Jesus frees us from our fear of death. Because He died, we can live forever. And the hope of eternal life in Christ provides the transforming assurance we need to face death without fear. Amen?
In closing, here is Resolution #9 from Jonathan’s famous list of 70 resolutions: “I Resolve, to think hard on all occasions of my own death and the common circumstances accompanying death.” Thinking a lot about death motivates me to think a lot about living each day as if it were the last. Could be.