FREEDOM FROM FEAR OF DEATH

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy 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)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt enunciated the four freedoms we need. The last, and the most difficult to eradicate is freedom from fear. During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an obsession with fear of infection and death. Even Christian believers have become risk averse and try to avoid any possibility of associating with crowds in case they are unvaccinated and may spread the virus. Vaccination and mask mandates, booster shots and certificates to attend restaurants, games, shows and cruises have become issues of contention. Fear of death stalks the land. Why is this?

Robert Neale in The Art of Dying lists three aspects of this fear. (1) We fear the loss of mastery, the loss of control, being vulnerable. (2) We fear incompleteness and failure. There is a stark finality to death. Things left undone will never be brought to completion once we have crossed the finish line. (3) We fear separation from our loved ones. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross adds the fear of unfamiliarity. Death becomes a specter to be avoided, a master to which we are enslaved, and an enemy at which we rage.

In what way have Christians been delivered from this slavery to this fear. (1) Christian hope is based on the fact that because of the forgiveness of our sins through Christ’s suffering of death, we know one who has gone before us. We have the comfort of one who has experience of dealing with it. Jesus gives us confidence and stability as he takes our hand and leads us through death to resurrection. (2) Our sense of incompleteness and failure is counterbalanced with hope of an eternal future – guaranteed by the Cross of Christ. C.S. Lewis wrote in The Last Battle, that all our lives in this world have only been the cover and title page of our book. When we die we begin Chapter One of the great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before. The cities and lands of planet earth are not the end of the road for the believer but mere terminals, visited for a while as we pass through. (3) Our fear of separation has been turned inside out. In the heavenly kingdom we will enjoy relationships with those from whom we have been separated by death. (4) As followers of Christ, we have already surrendered mastery of our lives, realizing that control of our destinies was an illusion all along. Fear of loss of control dissipates in giving control to One who cares for us deeply and has the power to handle any situation.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory. ‘Where, O death is your sting?’ Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor.15:54-57).

We believe in the gift of eternal life and God’s sovereignty over our lives. Our times are in his hands. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without his knowledge. Yes, we need to take care of our bodies and not be foolish and careless. We should not needlessly throw all caution to the winds. But we should not take refuge in seeking comfort and safety for ourselves at the expense of our faith in Christ, our fellowship, and our love for our neighbors.

(Some material from George H. Guthrie, Commentary on Hebrews, pp.120-123)