There seems to be such a fear of death in the church today.
With all of the hysteria and panic surrounding Covid-19, I can understand how some folks have fallen into fear over this.
But even if Covid (or anything else) had a 100% death rate, the Bible is clear that we should not be fearing physical death as believers.
In Hebrews 2:14-15 we are given the reason:
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
We're told here that the devil has something called "the power of death". That he hangs the fear of death over every person and holds them in bondage for their entire lifetime until they eventually die.
But the good news, we're told; is that Jesus died for us (Hebrews 2:9- He tasted death for everyone) so that we would no longer have to fear physical death anymore.
Why? Because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Cor 5:8)!
Our final breath here on earth will be immediately followed by our first breath in heaven with the Lord Jesus!
So if you consider yourself a believer in Jesus and are feeling terrified of Covid-19 or of death in general; I want you to ask yourself:
Where is your fear coming from? Read the passage above again. Who is the one who holds the power of death and who is the one who is holding the fear of death over you? Does your fear of sickness and death really come from God? Why do you think you are feeling this way?
The thought of death can be scary, of course. My dad died from lung cancer about 11 months ago and I think about it all the time. But even when I do feel afraid, I need to give those feelings to the Lord because I know they are not from Him.
Believers in Jesus should not be afraid of physical death, persecution, hardship, or suffering. That doesn't mean those things aren't hard. But what it does mean is that we believe the truth of God's Word when those fears come.
Covid may not have a 100% death rate, but life does. We will all have to face physical death someday. This is a reality that none of us can escape.
But praise God that we will never have to face eternal spiritual death because Jesus died and rose again for us!
Written in love,
Pastor Kevin
