To fear the unknown and the mysterious is natural, and for this reason the human mind instinctively shrinks from the contemplation of death and the afterlife. Yet, man must form some concept of these things, and in a nation where the profession of Christianity is relatively costless, multitudes embrace the thought of a loving God Who makes heaven available upon almost any terms a man may choose. To such, death is merely an unpleasant interruption in enjoying the best of two worlds, but Christ warned in the gospel, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mt. 6:24). Others suppress the thought of a coming judgment day, viewing death as the end of their pleasures, and adopting the philosophy, “let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” But the Apostle goes on to declare, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” (I Cor. 15:32,33). And not a few there be who, assuming their good deeds and services outweigh their sins, will plead with Christ in the judgment, “We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” (Lk. 13:26,27).
Seeing therefore that men left to their own thoughts about death and the judgment to follow invariably form wrong conclusions leading them to eternal hell, how may one overcome the fear of dying without believing a lie of Satan? Only as the teaching of God’s Word is understood, believed, and received. In it is explained how Adam, the head of the human race, was created by God morally upright, innocent, and free from the fear of dying. When he sinned against God Adam forfeited to the cruel tempter Satan both his innocence and his power over the fear of death. It took nothing less than the life of the Second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, to undo Satan’s deadly power, as Hebrews 2:14,15 so plainly reveals: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” The Lord Jesus accomplished this great work, not with angelic power, but with man’s very nature, sin excepted, “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (v. 16). His sinless life and substitutionary death for sinners enabled Christ to make reconciliation for the sins of His people, thereby becoming their Mediator toward an offended God in heaven: “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (v. 17). Being raised from the dead, the temptations Jesus triumphantly passed through in this world enable Him now to sympathize with God’s children troubled by Satan and sin, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (v. 18).
Looking thus to Jesus by faith, He becomes the heart’s Object of love, as the Apostle John confessed, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (I Jn. 4:16). This love anticipates no termination by death, for it has prepared the soul for judgment: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (v. 17). Ungodly fear enslaving the soul to its lusts cannot exist in the presence of this love because the heart’s affection is set upon the things of Christ, not upon the things of the god of this world, Satan: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” (vs. 18,19). Reader, examine your heart and life if these things be true of you, and turn to this Lover of your soul.