The Crippling Fear of Death
Our nation has had another act of terrorism. Whether it comes from the outside, like 9/11, or from inside our own country, like the recent school and movie theater shootings, lives are left devastated and people left in fear. By killing and wounding a few hundred people, the terrorist's goal is to strike fear in millions of people.
Psalm 23:4 reads, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
How can we not walk in fear while our lives are being threatened?!? Jesus told his disciples, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). What he is saying is that death has lost its grip on the believer. Life goes on beyond this life. God is the only one who can judge and destroy and he stands behind the believer!
Jesus came to not only to take away sin, but the product of sin as well… death. Sin and death obviously still exist; the bombing at the Boston Marathon obviously speaks to that. However, Jesus declared the victory in the war over sin and death atleast 2,000 years before the war has ended. As he hung on the cross he said, “It is finished” and then died for your sins. Then he proved it by overcoming the effects of sin three days later when he overcame death. Jesus declares, “Fear not, for I have overcome death, and if you believe upon me, so have you!”
“…he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14b-15)
Fear of death is natural in our fallen state, but God wants us to overcome fear. Fear of death keeps us in bondage! The ultimate terrorist, Satan, is well aware of this fact and fear is one of his greatest weapons. You see fear of death will not only keep you from marathons, movie theaters, schools and skyscrapers, but it will also keep you obsessed with this life in general. You’ll seek earthly things above heavenly things. You'll be so obsessed with holding on to your life with safety and security to the extent that you will never be able to really live for God. Fear is handicapping. It is crippling.
God has put us here for 60-80 years on average and it isn’t to clutch this life like a life vest. Jesus is our life vest. We hold on to this life and we lose everything worth living for. C.S. Lewis said, “If you live for the next world, you get this one in the deal; but if you live only for this world, you lose them both.”
Don't allow fear to paralyze you. God has set us free from the penalty and power of sin and death. Eventually he will deliver us from the very presence of sin and death, however right now we have a job to do. We have been given the keys to set others free by sharing Jesus with our love, life and lips. Don't allow fear to rob you of your mission. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)
Scott Hescht
Psalm 23:4 reads, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
How can we not walk in fear while our lives are being threatened?!? Jesus told his disciples, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). What he is saying is that death has lost its grip on the believer. Life goes on beyond this life. God is the only one who can judge and destroy and he stands behind the believer!
Jesus came to not only to take away sin, but the product of sin as well… death. Sin and death obviously still exist; the bombing at the Boston Marathon obviously speaks to that. However, Jesus declared the victory in the war over sin and death atleast 2,000 years before the war has ended. As he hung on the cross he said, “It is finished” and then died for your sins. Then he proved it by overcoming the effects of sin three days later when he overcame death. Jesus declares, “Fear not, for I have overcome death, and if you believe upon me, so have you!”
“…he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14b-15)
Fear of death is natural in our fallen state, but God wants us to overcome fear. Fear of death keeps us in bondage! The ultimate terrorist, Satan, is well aware of this fact and fear is one of his greatest weapons. You see fear of death will not only keep you from marathons, movie theaters, schools and skyscrapers, but it will also keep you obsessed with this life in general. You’ll seek earthly things above heavenly things. You'll be so obsessed with holding on to your life with safety and security to the extent that you will never be able to really live for God. Fear is handicapping. It is crippling.
God has put us here for 60-80 years on average and it isn’t to clutch this life like a life vest. Jesus is our life vest. We hold on to this life and we lose everything worth living for. C.S. Lewis said, “If you live for the next world, you get this one in the deal; but if you live only for this world, you lose them both.”
Don't allow fear to paralyze you. God has set us free from the penalty and power of sin and death. Eventually he will deliver us from the very presence of sin and death, however right now we have a job to do. We have been given the keys to set others free by sharing Jesus with our love, life and lips. Don't allow fear to rob you of your mission. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b)
Scott Hescht
posted by Scott Hescht at 12:32 PM
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