Though I have limited understanding in the realm of psychology, I still
believe that most people, if they were honest, would say that dreading death is
the number one fear they have. To
protect their innermost psyche, they bury the thought of it in the deepest
recess of their subconscious, because they are uncomfortable talking about the
unknown. The only time it surfaces is
when someone they know passes away.
The realization of dying, when brought to the forefront of one’s
thinking, produces fear. People, in
general, prefer living on the non-reality side of life where fear seldom shows
its ugly face. It is a fear of the
unknown that people shy away from.
My wife just shared with me that when she recently went in for a
medical procedure, she was fearful that she would not wake up from the general
anesthesia. This possibility is
certainly in the back of most of our minds when going under any type of
anesthetic.
The other day a young man emailed me regarding the trepidation that
accompanies the mystery of dying and hell, of which I had touched on in one of
my previous writings; “Messengers of God.”
I appreciate his sincere candor concerning my position on the subject
matter of hell, whereas, his opinions inspired me to write these thoughts for
today.
I would like to share a few of his viewpoints if I may. He wrote, “People are already freaked out
about death. Sometimes hell feels so far
away or non-existent, but death is ever-present.”
He continued, “I know that the Word is clear about the consequences of
sin is death, however, I feel that non-believers are more afraid of the
unknown; the certainty of death and if there is a life after death. That alone is cause for someone to believe in
Christ that will give them hope.”
His perspective was thought provoking when he said, “I know that hell
is reality, but when a person is afraid of death, in general, that is more
frightening than hell, in my opinion, because we see death all around us.”
His remedy for combating the fear-factor of death was encapsulated in
his following sentence: “It is
simple—admit that you have sinned (made bad choices), believe that Christ died
on the cross for you and rose again, and confess that Jesus is Lord in your
life—then you will not worry about death or the afterlife—God will take care of
you.”
In that the devil is deceitful and the father of all lies, he is
deceiving people everywhere with his deception; telling them that there is no
hope for their station in life, especially the youth of our land. The suicide rate of young people is
staggering, because they lack hope.
It is not natural for people to harbor a death wish rather than
enjoying life at its fullest unless they are perhaps suffering from a chemical
imbalance in their body or enduring peer pressure or facing dismal
circumstances that have removed all hope, which has caused them to give up on
living.
It is a terrible thing when a person lacks hope, then nothing seems
worth living for. I can relate to this
notion. When I was younger I was quickly
approaching an area of instability, like thin ice; living in sin with hope
slipping through my fingers like sand.
Satan was making me question, “Is this all there is to life?” But Jesus gave me hope to face another day
when I asked Him to forgive me of my sins. The moment I invited Him into my heart He
spoke peace to my trouble soul. Now,
everyday is new and exciting, because of the hope I possess.
I knew an individual that despised growing old. When he was alive, if he heard a clock
ticking, it disturbed him, because he felt that each tick of the clock was that
much closer to him dying. I think he was
obsessed with the finality of death, and the thought of dying terrified
him. I believe that he feared dying more
than anything.
Another person I knew also hated the thought of dying. When turning thirty years old it devastated
him and forty was worse. It wasn't until
the half-century mark was knocking at the door that something wonderful
happened. His friend said these words to
him, “When you consider the alternative of having another birthday, it’s not so
bad growing old. Six feet under or
another year older; what do you want?”
It put things into right prospective.
We need not only look at the beauty around us; we need to stop and
smell the roses; to enjoy every moment of every day.
Like so many other people around us, another fellow that I knew was
living so far from the peaceful shore of a Christ filled life that the darkness
surrounding his topsy-turvy vessel was unbearable. It was like being caught in a horrific
whirlpool that was sucking him under for the third time; life ebbing away. He did not want to die for fear of the unknown
and what it held for him.
This man lacked the peace that being a Christian brings; peace that
produces hope through Jesus Christ. He
was afraid to sleep at night for fear that he would die before morning
light. He knew that if there was really
a hell he would end up there.
Remember the young man that emailed me?
I agree with his concept concerning death and the fear that the mind can
produce regarding the certainty and finality of death; being afraid of the
unknown. But God can take away all fear.
I have heard of people dying and then coming back from the dead;
telling others of their experience. I
will not comment on these stories. As
for me, I believe the moment that I am pronounced dead, I am already in the
presence of God. This is my hope, just
like the thief on the cross next to Jesus on the day they were crucified.
(Luke 23:42-43), “Then he said to
Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ ” vs.43 “And Jesus
said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise .’ ”
The words of the young man that emailed me, resonates in my head. “People are already freaked out about death,
and that hell feels so far away or non-existent, but death is
ever-present.” Please allow me to end
these thoughts with the following, loving remembrance.
My mother-in-law, a mighty woman of God, passed on to her reward in
heaven a short time back at the age of Ninety-three. She was a prayer warrior that arose early
each morning to pray for her family members, grandchildren, and those people
needing God’s touch that were on her prayer list. She then read the Bible and did her
devotions.
Just before she went to be with the Lord she came out of the comma that
she was in; in her right mind and asked for the telephone. She called each of her grand-kids and
emphasized the importance of serving God and possessing the hope that He
provides. She quoted scriptures, prayed
for them, and blessed each one. She
turned to those around her bed and bid each one goodbye and told us not to
grieve her departure.
She had no fear of dying, because perfect love casts out all fear. Her hope was in whom she loved—Jesus
Christ. Mom knew where she was going,
because she was made perfect in love.
There was no doubt in her mind, whatsoever, where her destination would
be. She had fought the good fight,
finished the race, and kept the faith.
There was laid up for her the crown of righteousness in heaven.
Her demeanor and expressions were like she was saying, “Let’s get this
show on the road” because she was ready to meet her Lord and Savior. She closed her eyes; slipped back into a
comma, and peacefully went home to be with Jesus.
What a legacy Mom left! Her
example of a Christ-filled life will live on in the hearts and lives of her
children, grandchildren, and their children’s children. We need not fear death when hope of the
resurrection is within us, because perfect love casts out all fear.
(1 John 4:17-19), “Love has been
perfected among us in this: that we may
have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this
world.” vs.18 “There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in
love.” vs.19 “We love Him because He
first loved us.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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