Much could be said about the current condition of the people of the United States. One thing that seems to stand out prominently is the fear of death. As western nations (especially America) have prospered, we have become unaquainted with suffering and death. Thus, when our public media sound an alarm of a deadly, unknown virus, it seems that we instinctively become extremely fearful. Jesus offers us a remedy in two ways.
First, our Lord gave us an example to follow. When His life was threatened by known enemies, who had recently sought to murder Him, Jesus said the following about going to where those enemies were: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him,” (John 11:9-10). Our Lord understood that our times are determined by God. Our clock will run out of time when it is appointed, and we cannot, by worrying “add one cubit to our stature.” When this truth grips us, we will be released from worry, fear of death, and anxiety.
Second, our Lord vanquished the power of death by His death and resurrection. The Apostle points out why Jesus partook of human nature: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage,” (Hebrews 2:14-15). When a deadly panic sets in, we must turn our eyes away from our circumstances, to death, which will most certainly take us when our hours expire, and trust in Jesus’ death to release us from our bondage to fear.
Our Lord not only died, but rose again. The Scriptures give us hope and courage, even in the face of death, since as Jesus rose, so will His people: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
May we follow the example of our Lord, trusting in God’s timing, but especially trust in Christ’s work to release us from the bondage and fear of death.
