The Fear of Death

Most people think that if one dies it is the worst thing that can happen to a person. And this is not true if he is in Christ, but if he is not in Christ, it is the worst thing that can happen to anyone.  

This is sad, for if things do not change everyone will die. One hundred percent of mankind will die. (Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” 

We do not want even to say that someone has died. We say “he has passed” or “he is gone” or “he is no longer with us.” There are lots of people who will not say, “He is dead.” 

Not all people fear death, but most do. There are two types of people that do not fear death: 

1. The ones that believe that there is a God and believe that God has forgiven them of their sin.

2. The other persons that do not fear death are the ones that do not believe that there is a God. 

Let’s talk about this first type of people who do not fear death. 

These people believe the Bible is true and that God wants to give eternal life to those who believe in Jesus. (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” They have done what the Bible says to do, (Romans 10:9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” And they have called on him to save them. (Romans 10:13) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

They believe God when he says, (Ephesians 2:8-9) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

They have no reason to fear death. 

Let’s talk about the second type of people who do not fear death.

Some do not fear death because they have convinced themselves that there is nothing after death. They have convinced themselves that there is not a righteous God. If there is not a righteous God, then there is no life after death. If there is no God and no life after death, then there is not any judgment. So, then there is no reason to fear death. If it is true that there is not a righteous God, then one can live his life any way he wants. He can sin all he wants. 

But this is not what the Bible says. The Bible says, (Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

If you are right and the Bible is wrong, then there is no reason to fear death. You will have to agree that the Bible is right about one thing, “-it is appointed unto men once to die.” So, how can it be wrong about the judgment after death? 

If the Bible is true, there is life after death and there is a heaven and a hell. If I have done the thing that the Bible asked me to do, I will be in heaven. If you or I do not do what it asks, we will be in hell. Are you sure the Bible is wrong? Can you take that chance? Are you sure that there is not a God that loves you and does not want you to go to hell so much that he gave his Son to die for you to pay the penalty for your sins? 

You do not have to take the chance that you will end up in hell and be punished for your sins. Because Christ took your punishment for your sins so you do not have to. 

If there is no life after death there is not a God. And if there is not a God that created this world, then how did the world come into being? Because there is a creation there must be a creator.  

3. Some do fear death. They are the ones that are not sure that there is a God or not; this most people. 

These people think that it seems right to think that there is a God, but they have not done what God asked them to do, so they fear death and judgment.

Is this you? You do not have to fear death for all one needs to do is what the Bible asks. (Romans 10:9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:13) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

*Devotional written by Ralph Williams, retired pastor and member of One Hope Mobile.

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