THE FEAR OF DEATH Kay Keith Peebles 05/22/20 20.18
It was the Greek physician Hippocrates who first coined the phrase “Desperate times call for desperate measures”. Desperate times expose hypocrisy, fear, pride, greed, and falsehood. They also reveal faith, trust, courage, generosity and truth. It is easy to distinguish between the two responses in a pandemic.
Although there are at least three generations alive at this time period, in each there can be a variety of responses to the same situation because of personal experience. The older generation, of which I am a member, grew up with parents who went through many crises in their lifetime. They were: World War I 1914-1918, the Great Depression 1929-1933, a 6th cholera pandemic 1910-1911, American polio epidemic 1916, Spanish flu1918-1920, World War II, Korean War, Asian flu pandemic 1957-58, Bay of Pigs, The Cold War with the Soviet Union 1947-1991, flu pandemic 1968, Vietnam War, HIV/AIDS pandemic1981-2012, and possibly H1N1 Swine flu 2009-2010.
My parents experienced war rationing and shortages of food, goods and services during World War I, the Great depression and World War II. Growing up in the 1950s and 60’s I used to think it was odd for my dad to have an extra set of new automobile tires hanging in the garage (just in case). It was because he was always thinking ahead to the future knowing things had been in short supply in the past. The only thing I can recall being a bit scarce in my lifetime prior to this COVID-19 pandemic is gasoline. During the 1970’s OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) disrupted our oil supplies by limiting the amount of oil they would sell to the U.S. Not only were there long lines at gas stations, supplies were quickly used up and tensions were high. The government lowered the speed limit to 55 miles per hour to reduce the amount of gasoline we used. Many other industries and businesses were affected by the shortage and wages were lowered. This motivated the American oil and gas companies to make our country oil independent in order to prevent being held hostage in the future.
One common factor in all of these situations which disrupts and creates greater disaster is the response of fear and panic among the people. When faced with an “unknown” future some become overwhelmed with fear and immediately go into self-preservation mode. Hoarding is one of the results. It creates an atmosphere of anger and increases fear which can lead to violence. This selfishness creates panic because necessary provisions become in short supply and all suffer needlessly as a result.
Generosity through sharing what one has with others is the response of faith and trust in God and it produces an atmosphere of peace and calm. It motivates a confidence that things will be alright eventually and it affirms the Biblical promises that God knows our needs and will help us in the time of trouble. See Psalm 46:1.
Such times expose the condition of our heart. We can say we believe in God and stand on His word, but in a crisis we will find out whether our “faith” is based upon real substance. A pandemic will cause us to clearly see how we react, whether we run to self-protection mode or we remain calm by trusting in the Lord. See Proverbs 3:5-6. Because of the early predictions, the whole world has been faced with the possibility of unexpected death because of this COVID-19 crisis. We have all been strangely affected by this dilemma. While the fear of death is very real, our response to the prospect of dying exposes the condition of our heart. Of course, there is a real and present threat which we cannot treat casually. It is wisdom for us to use caution as we move forward, but I am specifically addressing the torment of the fear of death.
I have often wondered what I would do when faced with imminent death. Our reaction is determined by what we believe in regard to this life and the possibility of life after death. Those who do not believe in God and therefore do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, cling to this life with all their might. This world is all they are certain of and when life is over that’s it. Those who believe in the Kingdom of God and eternal life do not cling to this world or the things in this world but look beyond to eternity with God. This life is considered to be simply the journey toward our destiny of eternity with Christ. Heaven is the “utopia” people on earth dream about. However, it will never be accomplished here because the flesh without surrender to the Holy Spirit cannot develop the character of selflessness and true, abiding love.
The Bible tells us that Jesus gained victory over the fear of death. As I have meditated on the possibility of death in this season, I have found strength in the knowledge that what He conquered I can also conquer. The fear of death is the last bastion in this life.
When God created Adam and Eve, they were pure and holy and dwelled in the presence of God in the Garden of Eden. They would have never experienced death if they had not disobeyed the Lord and eaten from the tree of good and evil. Sin brought death into the world but Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of sin and death. We may still die, but the fear of death and the sting of death no longer has the power to bind us in fear. Jesus died in our place, taking on our sin and extending to us His Righteousness. He suffered our penalty so that we do not have to be afraid to die. As death approaches a believer, so does the amazing presence and glory of God draw near to us, aiding us in our transition from earth to heaven.
“Since the children have flesh and blood, [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15.
Jesus conquered the fear of death in the Garden of Gethsemane. His prayer of surrender to the will of God His Father caused such stress the Bible says He sweat drops of blood. “And being in anguish He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44. Jesus defeated the fear of death completely, and surrendered His will to the Lord God to accomplish what He was sent here to do. Because as a human being He won the victory over the fear of death, we too, can live and die free from the fear of death. Therefore, scripture gives us new hope.
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true. ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory,’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death is your sting.’” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55.
As I continue to grow in the Lord and in the knowledge of His great love for us, I find it is easier to submit to God’s will in all cases because He loves us so much. He cares for us; He is good and that enables us to trust Him more. We all know we are going to die one day if our life ends before the rapture of the church. This pandemic affords us the opportunity to meditate on the state of our heart, our faith and our trust in the Lord during such a time. If we feel fear from the possibility of death, we can be encouraged by His victory over death and our assurance of His comfort, peace and love leading us through the process. He will not leave us there alone, but He will guide us through to victory!
“This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, during our time in this world, we are just like Him. There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:17-18.
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight): We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.
The Apostle Paul spent several years in prison in Rome knowing that one day he would be executed. During that time, he did not fear his death because he had confidence in the promise of the Lord for eternal life. He knew that this world could never be compared to our heavenly home. In the scripture above, Paul in essence said this: “It doesn’t matter to me what happens. If I remain living here, I keep on ministering to the people but if I die, I’ll be with the Lord in heaven. I can’t lose!”
Whether we are experiencing a pandemic or not, the matter of death still exists but as long as our hearts are surrendered to the Lord and His will, we need not fear.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort and console me…And I shall dwell forever in the house and in the presence of the LORD.” Psalm 23:4-6.
May we all continue to become perfected in His great love for us, trusting in His goodness to be with us in and through every crisis that comes. Our loving and gracious Lord has gone before us, paving the way and having defeated the fear of death on our behalf. Let us therefore focus on the glory which will be revealed to us and the joy of eternity in His presence.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumph and joy and unspeakable delight, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25.
