“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”– 1 Cor. 15:19-20)
The fear of death has done terrible things to people. They know it’s coming and go to great lengths to avoid it. It is like a monster they want to elude, a mystery they can’t figure out, misery they can’t escape. But reminders of it are everywhere. They busy themselves with life hoping they won’t think about it, but then they pass a cemetery, or receive the news that someone has died, or develop an illness and the fear rises again.
They hear the fearless testimonies of Christians, but wonder if they are really being honest. They want to be so confident in facing death but just can’t seem to find the courage. They wonder “Can such a powerful enemy be defeated?” Must we forever succumb to his threats? What will it be like? We’ve all been there. There seems to be no escape from this enemy– until someone shines the bright light of God’s Word on the subject.
Then we read of Christ, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matt. 28:6) and we find reason to hope. We realize that death can indeed be–has been, defeated (1 Cor. 15:19-26, 55-57). Because of the resurrection of Christ we no longer need to fear death. Those “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:15) are now delivered! Now rather than looking at death with dread we see it as a mere departure (2 Tim. 4:6-8). We no longer think of it as the end, but as the beginning. Rather than seeing it as a loss we see it as a gain ( Phil. 1:21) –great gain, due to the fact that we enter into the fulness of our inheritance as joint heirs with Christ! Awareness of our Lord’s resurrection gives us assurance of ours. It turns the dread of death into thoughts of delight. We come to realize that it would be awful to spend eternity on this sin-cursed earth. Heaven is better than this! -HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
