Honestly, it is important for each of us to be ready to face death without fear every day. Whether there is a global pandemic going on or not. None of us are guaranteed more than the moment we have right now.
Greg and I experienced 3 deaths in our family in less than 6 months in 2018. With my Grandma’s death, we had a few weeks to prepare and to say goodbye. With each of Greg’s parents, their deaths were extremely sudden and unexpected.
Thankfully, Grandma and Greg’s parents were ready to meet the Lord. Greg’s dad was a Southern Baptist pastor for almost 55 years. He often spoke of being ready at any moment to “step out into eternity.” And he was wise to do so.
We all face death because we are sinners and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 3:23). God created us to live in fellowship with Him and each other forever. Death is a terrible part of the curse of sin. We all sense that this is not how things should be. It is not how things were meant to be.
You absolutely can face your death without fear if you belong to Jesus. Not that you will look forward to the dying part. Sometimes it’s peaceful. Sometimes it is icky.
But we can avoid the worst part of death. Its sting!
“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.
1 Cor. 15:55-57
We can have victory over sin, death, the grave, and hell through Jesus, if we are willing to humble ourselves before Him and receive the free gift of salvation and eternal life He offers to each of us.
I believe God is giving a massive spiritual wake-up call around the world right now through this global pandemic.
It is a chance to slow down and think about where we have placed our trust. A chance to move our faith from worldly, shakable things to the Lord, who alone is unshakable while there is still a bit of time before the rapture and the Great Tribulation. (Which I believe are coming quickly.)
I encourage everyone:
Please do what you need to do to get your heart, mind, and life right with God today!
How You Can Face Death without Fear
If you belong to Jesus and have yielded your life to His Lordship, you have built your life on the Solid Rock and you don’t have to be shaken by the thought of death. You won’t be alone. You will have God’s Spirit with you every moment of this life and on into eternity.
THE FIRST PASSOVER
The night before God set the Israelites free from Egyptian bondage, all of them were quarantined in their homes. Egypt had experienced 9 plagues so far. But that night, the death angel would go through the land and kill the firstborn male in every home that did not have the blood of an innocent, perfect Passover lamb on its door frame.
The Egyptians had at least one death in every home that night. But the Israelites who trusted and obeyed God were spared.
OUR PASSOVER LAMB
The Passover in Egypt was a symbol of what Jesus would later do for us. At the very hour that Jews were slaughtering their Passover lambs around Israel, Jesus was crucified as our ultimate Passover Lamb.
When we have His blood covering our hearts and lives, we don’t have to fear death. We will be delivered from the second death, which is hell (eternal separation from God).
THIS PASSOVER
For the first time since the original Passover, all of Israel—and all of the world—is on lockdown in our own homes. May we all take time to turn from anything God calls sin and turn to Jesus in faith, trusting Him to take us safely to the true Promised Land.
It is time to be sure that we have the blood of Christ Jesus covering our hearts and families. God is allowing us to have more time to turn to Him. Let’s not waste this opportunity!
God is at work in mighty ways, calling us all to repentance, salvation, and eternal life!
What the Bible Says About Death
Let’s build our understanding of death on God’s Word and His promises to those who are in Christ.
- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4
- Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Ps. 116:15
- Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 11:25
- “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3
- So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:6-8
- And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, Heb. 9:27
What Does the Bible Say About Death and Dying?
What Does the Bible Say About Fear?
If we are in Christ, He took the judgment and wrath of God on Himself that we deserved. He died in our place. He conquered sin, death, hell, and the grave on our behalf. If only we will receive His incredible gift by trusting in Him with faith.
Then He can also give us His power to live for God every day that we have on this earth. It is not about how hard we try or what we do. We can’t earn heaven. We can’t be perfect like Jesus can. It is all about what He did for us and what He does for us to empower us to be right with God and to live holy lives by His Spirit’s strength.
My Mom-mom’s Experience
When my Mom-mom passed away in December of 2016, I was so blessed to get to be by her bedside the last final weeks as she was on hospice. I had never been around someone who was dying before, and I didn’t know what to expect. More than anything, I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. I wanted to be there for every possible moment and I really wanted to be there with her at the end.
God allowed me to see something amazing. Mom-mom was not alone. In those final weeks, she usually could barely speak loudly enough for me to understand her. But sometimes, she would say something very clearly and loudly:
- “Do they have my name in the book?”
- “Well hello there! How have you been getting along?” with a huge smile on her face. Followed by a big conversation with an old friend she hadn’t seen in a long time.
- “Hi, Larry!” with a sweet smile and wave to the foot of her bed. Larry was my uncle, her son, who had passed away in January 2006.
- She would stare in wonder at the ceiling for hours. Smiling. Beaming. Sometimes pointing and saying, “Ooh!!!” I asked her if she saw angels, and she nodded her head yes.
I asked the hospice nurses and chaplains about what was happening and they told me that things like this happen about 90% of the time when people are in the process of dying if they are not sedated. Some even had stories of people seeing hell and being very hot and screaming they didn’t want to go there.
Wow.
My experience with Mom mom was a huge comfort to me. It was like I got to see her enjoying the glories and beauty of heaven in those final weeks. I wish I could have seen what she was seeing! But it helped me know that she was not alone. She was surrounded by loved ones and angels and beauty.
And even though I didn’t get to be there for her final breath, my parents and sister-in-law were there holding her hands. And she had a huge homecoming welcome in heaven with Jesus and so many loved ones who had gone before her.
We can face our own death with peace if:
- We belong to Jesus.
- We trust the promises of God’s Word.
We have the comfort of His Spirit with us all the time here on earth. And He will be right there with us when our time comes. We don’t have to be afraid.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Phil. 1:21
God doesn’t want anyone to perish but all to turn from our wrongdoing and wrong thinking and receive new birth and new life in Jesus!
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Share
What comfort do you have when you think about facing death?
If you are afraid and need biblical counsel, prayer, or encouragement, please let us know.
If you need help turning to Christ to be your Savior and Lord, I’d be glad to walk you through it so you can have assurance that you belong to Him.
Please share this post that others might be able to face death without fear, knowing they are at peace with God!
Related
What Does the Bible Say About Death? by www.gotquestions.org
What Does It Mean That Jesus Conquered Death? by www.gotquestions.org
How Can I Overcome the Fear of Death? by www.gotquestions.org
Is It Wrong to Fear Death? by Billy Graham
The Blessing of Knowing about Hell
The ABC’s of Salvation
- A = Admit you are a sinner and you can’t be perfect and holy enough in God’s eyes to be right with Him on your own. Turn away from your sin. Repent. And head toward God now. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
- B = Believe that Jesus died on your behalf to pay the price for your sin and to give you a way to be right with God – to be forgiven. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
- C = Confess that Jesus is your Lord – this means, Jesus is now your Master and you live your life for Him and His glory rather than for yourself. You say it out loud to others and you live it from now on. “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.” Rom. 10:9-10
If you have questions about how you can make Jesus your Savior and Lord, please comment!
God’s Incredible Plan for You!
Hi April,
I agree with everything in this article and I love your story about Mom-mom. It was very comforting and beautiful.
When my niece was a toddler, she used to smile at the ceiling and laugh and say “hi” as if she was seeing angels. Young children and people facing death seem to have the ability to see and communicate with angels a lot.
My fears regarding dying is leaving my son behind to face life without a mother. My husband is a loving father but the thought of leaving my son motherless breaks my heart. Can you write a post to address such a fear?
Nikki,
God is so good to provide us His Word, His promises, His Spirit, and even precious experiences to help prepare and comfort us.
I will definitely prayerfully consider a post on this topic, sweet sister.
But what helps me as I face this (because I do have some extra risk factors with coronavirus and I have had to think about it other times, as well) is that I know God loves my kids SO SO much more than even I do. I trust Him to be with them, to provide for them, and to protect them. I trust them to His loving care and His promises. I know He will never leave them or forsake them.
Much love! <3