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Northwest Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“Conquering The Fear of Death” |
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I. Introduction.
A. Much has been done, and continues to be done, through
medical research and other sciences, to attempt to extend
life and, at the same time, dispel the fear of death.1. As physical death is universal, not unique to any
one group of people, is much done, also, to promote
acceptance of it, and resignation to it – as opposed
to fear of it.2. As there are different views on death, so people
attempt to overcome a fear of death in different
ways.a. To the humanist, death is merely a part, or
consequence, of man’s organic (physical)
nature. All “animals” die, so why dread it?
This may rationalize the idea of death, but
it doesn’t explain it, or lessen fear of it. Is
no comfort in such a cold view.b. To some, the way to handle fear of death is
to deny its reality. Person who doesn’t want
any mention of death in his or her presence,
who denies the future and death’s reality
isn’t conquering fear of death, but becoming
slave to it. Fear controls them.1. Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the
Christian Science religion, pretended
death would not come to her. When
poor health kept her from taking her
customary buggy ride through town,
had nurse go in her place, to keep up
pretense of her good health.2. One of most extreme cases of denial,
and delusion, about reality of death
was that of widow of Oliver
Winchester, inventor of Winchester
rifle. In Santa Clara, California, she
constructed a monstrosity of a
mansion. She got idea that, as long
as she kept building on to her home,
she would not die! So, the house has
countless rooms, false doors,
inverted pillars, stairways to
nowhere. She slept in different room
each night, so, if death entered
house, it could not find her. One
night, despite all her efforts and a
fortune spent, she died.B. If conquering the fear of death is not a matter of relying on
medical science, or of taking the humanist view of man as a
purely physical being destined to depart from this world to
the emptiness of oblivion, or of self-delusion or denial of
death’s reality, how do we conquer such fear? Must, of
necessity, look to God for answers to questions of life and
death. Here are the only answers that truly make sense.II. Death In The Scriptures.
A. Scriptures call attention, often, to subject of death, but there
is not a great emphasis on it. Issues of forgiveness of sins,
life in God’s kingdom, eternity, and eternal reward and
punishment given more emphasis.1. Death, in scriptures, is but an event. Preparation for
what follows physical death is key to meaning of
life.2. Bible addresses subject of death from the
perspectives of certainty, and uncertainty.a. Death itself is certain. I Corinthians 15:22:
“For as in Adam all die, . . .” It’s an
“appointment” that everyone will keep,
sooner or later (Hebrews 9:27: “. . . as it
is appointed for man to die once.”).;
Ecclesiastes 3:2: “A time to be born, and
a time to die;” Ecclesiastes 9:5: “For the
living will know that they will die; . . .”).b. If an accident, or violence, does not cause
our death, one of thousands of diseases, or
old age, will. This we cannot escape.
Evidence of this fact is around us every day.
Even longest of lives succumbs to this
common end. In Genesis 5 we have
recorded:“ADAM lived 930 years, and he died . . .”
(5:3-5)
“SETH lived 912 years, and he died . . .”
(5:6-8)
“ENOSH lived 905 years, and he died . . .”
(5:9-11)
“CAINAN lived 910 years, and he died . . .”
(5:12-14)
“MIHALELEI lived 895 years, and he
died . . .” (5:15-17)
“JARED lived 962 years, and he died . . .”
(5:18-20)
“METHUSALEH lived 969 years, and he
died . . .” (5:25-27)
“LAMECH lived 777 years, and he
died . . .” (5:28-30)c. One day, someone will say of us:
. . . and he/she died.”d. But, the time of death is an uncertainty to
us. (James 4:14: “whereas you do not know
what will happen tomorrow. For what is
your life? It is even a vapor that appears for
a little time and then vanishes away.”)e. A second element of uncertainty, for many
people, is the aftermath of physical death.
Avowed agnostic, Robert Ingersoll, gave
the oration at grave of his brother. He said
in part . . . . .“Life is a narrow vale between the cold and
barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in
vain to look beyond the heights. We call
aloud, and the only answer is a wailing cry.
From the voiceless lips of the unreplying
dead come no word; but in the night of death
hope sees a star and listening love can hear
the rustle of the wing. He who sleeps here,
when dying, mistaking the approach of
death for the return of health, whispered
with his latest breath, ‘I am better now.’
Let us believe now, in spite of doubts and
dogmas and tears and fears that those dear
words are true of all the countless dead.”3. When Ingersoll finished his address, leaned over
his brother’s coffin and wept in grief. We cannot
live without hope. Cannot conquer a fear of death
without hope, either.a. Our only real, sure hope; only real, sure
comfort, lies in being prepared for death,
whenever that might come to us. Only a
heartbeat – fraction of a second – separates
us from that very thing, and judgment to
follow (Hebrews 9:27, B).b. In September, 1935, Louisiana governor,
Huey P. Long refused to listen to pleas of
man who wanted to talk to him.After several interruptions, Long told his
secretary, “Go tell that man I cannot see
him. I am so busy I could not give Jesus
Christ fifteen minutes of my time if He came
Himself.” Shortly afterward, Long left his
office to go to a meeting of the Louisiana
Senate at the capitol building in Baton
Rouge. As he walked along a corridor,
four shots rang out – an assassin had taken
Huey’s life. But a few moments separated
his life and death.B. We must turn to God for comfort, and conquest, of our fear
of death. God holds key to this victory over the fear of
death.C. Bible describes death with different comparisons, to help us
try to understand it better, as well as to provide assurance
and hope.1. Death is keeping an appointment – one set by a
loving, caring Father.2. Death is a rest (Revelation 14:13: “Then I heard a
voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed
are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.
Yes’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their
labors, and their works follow them’ ”).3. For child of God, death is not only peaceful rest, but
precious to Father: (Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”).Death is that which brings the child home to the
Father.4. Death is leaving the “poverty” of this life, and
world, for the “riches” of a heavenly inheritance
(John 14:2: “In My Father’s house are many
mansions; . . .”).5. Death is compared to sleep, and to great gain
(. . . to die is gain. Philippians 1:21); to final
victory (I Corinthians 15).III. Conquering Our Fears.
A. God, in His great love and mercy, has given us two very
powerful ways to conquer a fear of death.1. First, there is the assurance of resurrection. Long
ago, Job asked question: “If a man die shall he
live again?” (Job 14:14). Centuries later, Jesus
definitely, and precisely, answered that question:
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
(John 11:25). Jesus’ own resurrection assures us
of our new life, of life forever.2. Second, there is the assurance of heaven.
a. It is the place prepared for those prepared
to make the journey (John 14:2-3: “. . . I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come
again and receive you to Myself; that where
I am, there you may be also.”)b. It is the place where we have awaiting an
“. . . inheritance incorruptible and undefiled
and that does not fade away, . . .(I Peter 1:4).B. The greatest reason to fear death is living as though we will
never die. By facing the inevitability of death, and
preparing ourselves for it spiritually, we have the conquest
of such fear. That preparation rests on three certainties:1. God is sovereign. He reigns supreme and His
power is supreme – even His power over death and
evil. He meant for us to live forever (“. . . not
willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9).2. Second, life on earth is temporary – and
preparatory. We prepare now to live forever. But,
our earthly life is finite, with a beginning and an
end.3. The third certainty is that heaven awaits those who
make the right choices in earthly life. We control
our eternal destiny; we are responsible for the
consequences of our choices.C. We can conquer the fear of death. A sovereign God, and
our choices, guarantee this.IV. Conclusion.
A. (Illust.) “Once there was a little caterpillar. He lived in a
leafy bush with his mother. He was happy munching on
the tasty leaves and enjoying races with his friends. But,
once in a while, his mother said the “C” word, and he
would feel afraid. “It is part of your destiny,” she would
remind him. But a cocoon sounded scary to a little
caterpillar. And besides, he liked being a caterpillar. In
fact, it was the only life he could imagine.Then one day, it was time. His mother showed him how to
spin his very own cocoon and gave him a fuzzy kiss. “I’ll
see you after a while” she said and began to spin her own
cocoon. The little caterpillar didn’t remember actually
falling asleep but suddenly he felt wide awake, more awake
than he had ever felt before! As he stretched and looked
around, he realized that he had become a beautiful
butterfly. Then he spread his tiny wings and soared far
above his old world. In that moment he knew – his destiny
was more glorious than he could ever have imagined. And
he did not even remember the cocoon.B. What a glorious destiny awaits us – if we prepare now to
leave this world.