Tuesday, March 19, 2013

No Fear of Death


“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’

‘Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:50-58 NIV)

Just before his death earlier this month, Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, mouthed to those around him, “I don’t want to die.  Please don’t let me die.”  According to the head of the presidential guard, who gave this account, he said those words because he loved his country so much.  I think there may have been another reason.  

I have known a number of believers who have died.  None have been begging in their final breaths to be saved from death.  In fact, all have embraced it because their hope for life extended far beyond the grave. Did leaving this world and their loved ones behind sadden them?  Of course.  But what lay ahead far outweighed what they were leaving behind.  There may have been a sense of loss, but there was no panic.  

Those who hope in the Lord do not approach death terrified, clinging to this life.  Instead, they hold on to the hope Paul describes in this passage—the hope of the resurrection.  The disciples were devastated after the death of Jesus on the cross, but that all changed three days later when they saw Him alive!  From that point on, they knew there was life after death.  And what made the followers of Jesus so different from the rest in their culture was they had no fear of death.  They willingly placed themselves in dangerous situations in order to proclaim the good news about the hope there is in following Jesus.  

Yet, for those who have no hope, death is feared and dreaded.  This earthly life is all there is.  “Please don’t let me die” are the words of a man without hope.  Chavez had great power and was adored by millions of his countrymen, but, in the end, that appears to be all he had.  Without hope, he feared death.  

Today, as we approach our annual celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus, know if you have embraced the hope of eternal life, you have no need to fear death.  For all who believe, it is truly the beginning of life.  

© Jim Musser 2013

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