Slavery to the Fear of Death

Slavery to the Fear of Death

This fear rests over mankind like a heavy wet blanket. It fills the lungs of man with its acrid particles; coats the landscape. Regardless of the bravado of some, it is a dreadful enemy, striking every man, woman, boy or girl. Industries are built upon it. Depression arises from it like a mist. The entertaiment world levitates its viewers from it, then plunges them into it again because it remains the greatest of all shocks. We all will die and we all know it.

It must be the happiest news possible to hear that Jesus Christ did something about death in order to remove this fear. Read and be amazed:

“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.” (Heb 2:14-15)

If we continue to be enslaved by this fear, it isn’t for lack of concern on God’s part, nor for lack of effort or weakness of strategy. Freeing you from this fear was in His mind when Christ came to earth taking on humanity, living out the war against sin victoriously, dying triumphantly over its grip.

All other fears, in some way, start with this fear. Yet, Christ has set His people free from it. If they become forgetful, then they need to look harder at what was done by Christ so that they may adjust their thoughts to the reality. We can justifiably say that there are some people who can live comfortably with the knowledge of death.

We sometimes say of a person who has died after some period of pain, “Well, he is much better off now that he has died.” How foolish we are. That can only be said of the true Christian and is patently not true of others.

It can be true of you.