"[Jesus] Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:14-15
Swine flu, bird flu, SARS, floods, hurricanes, tornados, murder, accidents...the list of things that can take our life goes on forever.
In a 24 hour news cycle you can probably listen to a hundred stories about a thousand different ways people have died. Of course right now the big one is swine flue (though it has only claimed a small percentage of lives and is said to be no deadlier than the seasonal flu).
So why the hysteria? I heard this being discussed on Wretched Radio this morning and thought I would research the verses that were mentioned. One of them was the verse from Hebrews above. The fear of death is evident all over the earth. Everywhere you go you see people trying to live longer and stay younger...trying to fight or cheat death. To quote king Solomon, "this is a chasing after the wind."
No matter how many tummy tucks you get or vitamins you take you will one day die. Remember the statistic 10 out of 10 people die. There is no escaping it.
I think this is why a "new" flu hitting the planet just adds one more thing on the list and therefore ratchets up the fear of death in people because they do not want to face that dark adversary.
So, how do we respond as a Christian? Well, let's see what the scriptures have to say about death.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Romans 6:8-10
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
As a Christian I have no fear of death because Christ has died so that I may live. He has been to the grave and has risen triumphant! Because I have trusted in Him for forgiveness and salvation I have no fear of death because, "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)"
So whether I die in a tragic accident or of old age in my bed I have no need to fear death. In fact, death is both a friend and foe to me. It may take me from this world, but he has been conquered and so he will usher me into the glorious kingdom of my savior and my king, Christ Jesus.
The flip side to this is that those who are without Christ SHOULD fear death. If you have not repented and trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin then you stand in condemnation before Him even now:
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21
This is not me stating this out of arrogance (for I have done nothing to save myself) but simply stating what God says in His word. This is why men run from death and shake in fear whenever they get a glimpse of how they may go. Their conscience is screaming at them that they will be held accountable for their lies, thievery and lusts yet they "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" and run from the One who can save them. All the while they reject the only way in which they can be saved from the grip of death.
I pray this is not you, but if you are fearful of death and what lies behind that door then look unto Christ because He will save you and then you can look at death as a means to an eternity in the presence of God rather than a door into punishment and darkness.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17
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