Forty Days Without FearSample

OVERCOMING FEAR OF DEATH Part One

If we have been to a funeral, we have probably experienced the cold chill that comes from that time of grief and mourning. The black clothes, the flowers, the tears, the confusion. It’s easy to understand why we have the fear of death – the fear of losing and leaving everyone - especially our family and friends. It’s especially difficult because God never intended that for any of us!

It can be a heavy burden, and one that can easily become a fear if we don’t have the right foundations in our life. We hear the words ‘Heaven’ and ‘eternal life’ spoken of during the funeral service, but each of us needs to know these as a reality in our lives, carrying enough weight to overcome any fear of death.

Heaven is perfection. There is no poverty, no hatred, no sickness, no war, no loneliness, no tears, and no pain. Our verse today tells us that God’s love was so great for the world He created, that He gave his one and only Son, Jesus, to save it. 

The ‘world’ Jesus came to save includes every single human being regardless of age, race, gender, education, status, nationality, or behaviour. Jesus willingly laid down His life on the cross, so that we could regain eternal life within the family of God, as it was always meant to be.

Those who live in a relationship with God, through Jesus, are assured of an eternal life with Him, and a new resurrection body in a completely restored world. The Bible doesn’t even refer to us as dead when we leave this body, but only sleeping! That means when we die in Jesus, the next thing we know is waking up to perfection in eternity with Him. 

Fear of death is one of the most common fears among people, and there is something counter-cultural about being confident that there is a greater hope after death. 

Action: How can we share the hope we have in Jesus today? Pray for an opportunity!