Forgive me for a moment while I go a bit off subject, but I just must share something that I think just might help anyone who has any fear of death a great deal. Remember, we were talking about how Job lost all of his children and how Job was grieving? So if we tie it into that, at least it's not entirely off topic. But I read something today that made so much sense and I just must share it.
It was about the story of Lazarus when Jesus raised him from the dead. Many people have discussed what it must have been like for Lazarus to have been dead for 4 days and then brought back to life. Many even then, probably questioned him about what death was like. But the thought that really made the light bulb go off in my mind was something that's rarely discussed - that Lazarus, as well as the others Jesus raised, all had die again. That thought doesn't particularly bother me, but I know it does some people, especially those who have ever had any fear of death. So for any who have any fear of death, let me pose these questions: Did Jesus ever do anything during His time here that harmed anyone in any way? Did He ever cause anyone to go through physical pain? No! Never! Not even when He cleared out the temple those times! He never caused anyone any physical pain at all and never harmed a soul. As scripture itself says, He wouldn't have even broken a bruised reed! (or as we would say today, "he wouldn't hurt a fly!) Why? Because He loves us, especially those of us He's saved!
I feel absolutely positive that none of the people He raised from the dead, ever, for a single second, feared death again. If anything, I'm quite sure they felt as Paul did, and longed for it at times. If death was something horrible to go through, something to fear, our Lord would have never asked anyone to go through it twice, and especially not someone He dearly loved! So if Satan ever starts trying to scare you about it again, remind yourself of that!
Yes, sometimes the illness or pain can hurt before we die, but death itself? Not at all! It's a blessed relief and besides, we can also remember that Jesus promised He would never leave us -never, and that includes at our death. Those of us who live with severe pain and illness every day, can also assure you that even pain before death isn't that bad. We've experienced some pretty severe pain and already survived it, dealt with it, and got through it, often for quite long periods of time before it died back down to our "normal severe pain". The Lord always, always, give us the strength and the grace to deal with it, at that moment. Never before, and never a moment too late, and He always walks through it with us. While it's no fun and not something we ever look forward to, it's certainly not anything to be afraid of. We've been there. We know.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 —“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. *
2 Corinthians 5:8 —We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. *
Hebrews 2:14–15 —Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— *and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. *
It was about the story of Lazarus when Jesus raised him from the dead. Many people have discussed what it must have been like for Lazarus to have been dead for 4 days and then brought back to life. Many even then, probably questioned him about what death was like. But the thought that really made the light bulb go off in my mind was something that's rarely discussed - that Lazarus, as well as the others Jesus raised, all had die again. That thought doesn't particularly bother me, but I know it does some people, especially those who have ever had any fear of death. So for any who have any fear of death, let me pose these questions: Did Jesus ever do anything during His time here that harmed anyone in any way? Did He ever cause anyone to go through physical pain? No! Never! Not even when He cleared out the temple those times! He never caused anyone any physical pain at all and never harmed a soul. As scripture itself says, He wouldn't have even broken a bruised reed! (or as we would say today, "he wouldn't hurt a fly!) Why? Because He loves us, especially those of us He's saved!
I feel absolutely positive that none of the people He raised from the dead, ever, for a single second, feared death again. If anything, I'm quite sure they felt as Paul did, and longed for it at times. If death was something horrible to go through, something to fear, our Lord would have never asked anyone to go through it twice, and especially not someone He dearly loved! So if Satan ever starts trying to scare you about it again, remind yourself of that!
Yes, sometimes the illness or pain can hurt before we die, but death itself? Not at all! It's a blessed relief and besides, we can also remember that Jesus promised He would never leave us -never, and that includes at our death. Those of us who live with severe pain and illness every day, can also assure you that even pain before death isn't that bad. We've experienced some pretty severe pain and already survived it, dealt with it, and got through it, often for quite long periods of time before it died back down to our "normal severe pain". The Lord always, always, give us the strength and the grace to deal with it, at that moment. Never before, and never a moment too late, and He always walks through it with us. While it's no fun and not something we ever look forward to, it's certainly not anything to be afraid of. We've been there. We know.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 —“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. *
2 Corinthians 5:8 —We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. *
Hebrews 2:14–15 —Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— *and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. *
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