Yesterday was the day of putting away a body of a friend. He who endured so much pain was finally released. Many people attended this funeral, and I wondered as I spoke to them how many really were affected by this. A funeral should affect us in a great way. There we are shortly. As I gazed into the dead face I tried to picture myself as being the one who was in that casket. Did I have fear?
It is natural for a man to fear death. Man was not originally created to die. Adam would have lived on and on but he sinned, and the seeds of corruption, decay, and death are in this flesh of ours; and it is appointed unto men once to die. This fear of death in the natural sense is not wrong. But fear of death in a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is sinful.
Why is this? It means we can trust God in fair weather, but we cannot trust Him in a storm. If I fear death and it has brought me into a state of depression, I dishonor God. It means that God can be trusted in youth, but when I am old He cannot be trusted. David said, "To our Lord belongeth the issues of life and death." God said, "I kill and I make alive." Now, if He kills then is not that a blessing to His own? Can not we face old age, sickness, and death in a faithful manner? If we cannot, then the unbeliever will say, "I told you there was nothing to what you believe. They can sing when the sun is shining, but when the storm comes they're like me."
Well then, how does one get rid of the fear of death? It is not like most, by ignoring it! But if, by the grace of God, we can look to Christ Jesus, He not only sets us free from death but also from the fear of it. What is the sting of death? Paul said it is sin. Sin is that which makes it hard to face death. If sin is gone, I am not separated from God. If the blood of the blessed Savior covers me, then I do not have to be afraid to die. The unbeliever at death is executed, but the believer is delivered. Death is no longer a penalty, but a promotion. God has removed the sting of death and has changed the whole character of death for those who believe in His blessed Son. He also assures us that though this body ceases to function, we are in His holy presence forever. Afraid of death? Washed in Christ's blood, I am not!
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