Fear of death or thanatophobia affects many millions around the world. It is the term used to describe the anxiety and fear of one’s mortality.
Death is something that many of us don’t talk about or like to consider. We either push the thought of our departure from this life out of our minds or, on the other extreme, fixate upon death and what that means and how it will happen.
The news reports and especially the news of celebrities or well-known people getting sick or dying, disasters at home or around the world can cause people to feel very anxious, stealing their peace and joy.
But Jesus has the answer to these fears. He encourages us to have no fear of death and prescribed a cure for this fear when He said, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)
Paul, the apostle, often had close encounters with death. He was stoned several times and lived his life under threat, yet he wrote, “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
Paul discovered that the way to overcome the fear of death is to know and follow Jesus, then, your future is eternally secure in him. (John 6:37;10:28-29).
You don't need to fear physical death when you have spiritual life.
That’s also why David, whose life was under constant threat from King Saul, could write Psalm 23. “Even in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me”. He understood that “if God is for him, who could be against Him” (Romans 8:31).
However, there is much to fear from death if we don’t know and accept the gift of forgiveness and salvation that Jesus offers. Jesus himself said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
He loves every person and invites everyone to accept his gift of eternal life and freedom from the fear of death. But He won’t force people to know or live with Him for eternity. That’s our choice.
But once we choose to have Jesus in our life, there is nothing; no man, woman, sickness, disaster, neither the present nor the future will be able to separate us from Him. Heaven is for real, eternity is for real, and God’s promises to us are for real.
Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me. ‘In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, (there) you may be also. (John 14:2-4)
Today think upon His great love for you and that nothing can separate you from that love, not even death. Know that He knows the number of your days on the earth; and when you will go to be with Him forever in Heaven.
He promises that He has good things planned for you to do and become and desires to prolong your life and bring you peace, prosperity, hope, and a future. (Proverbs 3:1-2).
If you aren’t sure of your future and whether you will go to Heaven when you die and you live with the fear of death, then I invite you to pray this prayer and to mean it with all your heart.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am sorry for what I have done wrong in my life (take a few moments to ask his forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). Please forgive me. I now turn from everything I know is wrong.
Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.
Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. I now receive that gift and freedom from the fear of death and receive eternal life in you.
Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
In Jesus name Amen.
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