Is it really possible to have no fear of death? We see it in movies, when characters face death and gallantly proclaim, “I’ll see you in Hell!”
We see it in “Peter Pan” when he muses that death would be an awfully big adventure.
But that’s in the movies, and this is real life. We’re hearing about people all over the world, dying from this dreaded coronavirus, and maybe some of you know at least one person who has either contracted or fallen victim to it.
This time is unprecedented, and nobody knows how long it will last. How bad it will get.
Many of us are isolated. When will things get back to normal? Will things ever return to the way they were, or will we have a new “normal?”
I wish I knew.
Maybe this’ll help. Growing up in the Pentecostal church in the 70s and early 80s, I recall singing this song:
“I don’t know about tomorrow
I just live for day to day
I don’t borrow from the sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray
“I don’t worry o’er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead
“Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand
“Ev’ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Ev’ry burden’s getting lighter
Ev’ry cloud is silver lined
“There the sun is always shining
There no tear will dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky
“Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand”
(“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” © 1950, by Ira F. Stanphill)
There it is, right there. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I know that, as long as Jesus walks beside me, I’ll be victorious.” With the power of Christ, we will battle fear and death until there is no fight left in us.
I’d love to assure you this virus, and indeed, death itself, will not touch you. But I can’t.
One thing I DO know, however, is this:
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)
In other words, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”
The closer you grow to Jesus, the more fear will fall away, for His perfect love decimates all fear (I John 4:18)!
“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NLT)
Thus, I believe, with great effort and faith, it IS possible to move beyond a fear of death, if we follow Christ.
For He is the One who conquered death, Hell and the grave!
“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT)
Jesus came and died, rising again three days later, to free you from the slavery of the fear of death. I know it’s tough, my friend, and will probably get tougher, but it is imperative we hold tight to the Lord, and stick close to each other.
That’s the only way we’ll make it out of this life “alive.” Press on, day by day, and we’ll make it.
I’ll be praying for God to keep you in peace during this next dreadful season.
Blessings.
Broken People 