The fear of death and the death of fear

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, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Someone has said that this world is a dangerous place – you won’t get out of it alive. Death is a reality we all must face, and yet, so many bury their head in the sand, and refuse to think about it. It doesn’t have to be that way. The fear of death can be replaced by the death of fear.

1)     The fear of death

There is no mystery in why people have a fear of death. It means leaving everything we know and everyone we love. But the fear isn’t just caused by what we are leaving, but also by the knowledge of where we are going.

The Bible says that God “has put eternity in [our] hearts” (Eccl. 3:11), and that He has written “the work of the law” on our hearts (Rom. 2:15), so that we know, without anyone needing to tell us, that death isn’t the end, and that we are guilty before God. There is a God to meet, and a judgment to come, and because of the wrong we have done, we know that we deserve punishment. The Bible, which has proven itself to get it right when it talks about the future, tells us that the punishment we deserve for our sins is hell.

It is no wonder then that we are gripped by the fear of death. But that grip can be broken.

2)     The death of fear

The reason for our fear is sin, and the fact that our sin must be paid for. The Bible tells us that the Son of God came into the world to pay that penalty for us. The one who was eternally one with God became one with us so that He could pay for the sin of mankind. That’s why He went to the cross. His resurrection from the dead is the proof that the price was fully paid.

The fear of death is understandable, but it is not unavoidable. All who repent and trust in Christ for salvation have the promise that they are forgiven and will be in the enjoyment of God’s presence for all eternity. The death and resurrection of Christ is the death of fear to all who turn to Him.