Do You Fear Death Most?

O for a faith that will not shrink,

Though pressed by every foe,

That will not tremble on the brink

Of any earthly woe.

That will not murmur or complain

Beneath the chastening rod,

But in the hour of grief or pain,

Will lean upon its God.

A faith that shines more bright and clear

When tempests rage without;

That when in danger knows no fear,

In darkness feels no doubt!

Lord, give us such a faith as this;

And then whatever may come,

We’ll taste even here the hallowed bliss

Of an eternal home.

-W. H. Bathurst

As the world is wracked with fear and panic, Christians have an opportunity to display faith in God. The Coronavirus, a surprise illness, has visited our planet. The death toll is significantly less than other, more well-known viruses, but the fear of death has prompted citizens to hoard even the most basic items and hole-up in their homes for as long as possible. Shopping centers have reduced their hours of operation. Schools have closed for extended periods. Restaurants have begun sanitizing everything touched by human hands. Some religious gatherings have been cancelled or have had their schedules adjusted to keep crowds at a minimum. Our culture, it seems, fears death most of all.

When compared with all nations, the United States lives luxuriously. When life is so enjoyable and pleasant, the thought of losing it can be terrifying. The Scriptures do identify death as an enemy, but they attach that announcement to a note of Jesus’ triumph over it. Remember 1 Corinthians 15:22-26:

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death."

Death is an enemy, but Jesus conquers it by His power for all who are His. If you want to have no fear of death, then choose to belong to Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Cor. 6:9-11, 20).