How to Overcome the Fear of Death

The Coronavirus has people thinking about death more than normal.  And that is not a bad thing.  The more we think about the reality of death, the more serious we will be about preparing for it.  And death is certainly something we need to prepare for. 

But many people are fearful of death.  They see death as the end of their existence.  Or they see death as the entrance to the afterlife, and they fear they may go to hell.  But we don't need to fear death.  Why?  Because Jesus came to earth, died and rose again to conquer death.  "Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, death, is your victory?  Where, death, is your sting? (1 Cor 15:54-55)."

If you are struggling with the fear of death, let me encourage you with the word of God.  You don't need to fear death.  If you do the following, death will no longer frighten you.

1) Come to terms with it.  Let me be blunt.  You are going to die.  You probably won't die from the Coronavirus, but you will die from something eventually.  King Solomon said there is "a time to be born and a time to die (Eccl 3:1-2)."  Ecclesiastes 8:8 (NLT) says, "None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked.”  Unless Jesus comes back first, all of us will die. 

2) Make financial preparations and trust in God.  One of the reasons many fear death is that their family is dependent upon them.  I am the sole provider for my wife and six children.  They are very dependent upon me to bring home the bacon.  But there is a simple way to take care of this.  Make financial preparations for your death.  In an earlier post this week I wrote about the importance of saving up for the future (see Pr 21:20).  To prepare for death, you need a life insurance policy, and you need to be saving up for retirement.  It is very easy to procrastinate on these things -- especially when you are healthy and not in the middle of a worldwide epidemic -- but financial preparations go a long way toward helping you overcome the fear of death.  Once you have made financial preparations, then you need to trust in God.  In reality, God is your family's provider.  He is just working through you right now.  But when you die, He will work in another way to take care of your family.  "And my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19)." 

3) Learn about the afterlife.  Many people fear death because they see it as the great unknown; a terrifying mystery.  They have no idea about what comes after death.  But the Bible is very clear on these matters.  Luke 16 is a good place to start -- the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  The rich man, Dives, was wicked; the poor man, Lazarus, was righteous.  When they died, Dives immediately went to hell, and Lazarus immediately went to heaven.  We will all live forever somewhere -- either in heaven or hell.  There is no such thing as purgatory.  And your eternity begins the moment you die.  "Death begins a wicked man's hell.  Death ends a godly man's hell (Thomas Watson)." 

4) Seek eternal life in heaven.  The good news is that eternal life is freely available to everyone through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  "For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16)."  To be saved from God's wrath and go to heaven, you simply need to repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ.  It is as easy as ABC.  A -- Admit your sins and need for a Savior.  B --Believe in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.  C -- Call out to Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

5) Seek assurance of salvation.  Many people fear death even though they are Christians because they lack assurance of salvation.  They are not sure that they would go to heaven if they died.  They are question-mark Christians.  They are hope-so Christians.  This can be overcome by seeking and acquiring assurance.  Assurance is available to all.  You simply need to ask God for it.  You need a clear grasp of the gospel, and of the condition for salvation -- faith.  And you need to understand and cultivate the marks of salvation, such as love for God, love for others, obedience to the Bible, and hatred of sin.  The more you see the evidence of salvation in your own life, the more assurance you will have.  To learn more about assurance, study the little letter of 1 John -- that's what it's all about.

If you are Christian there is no need to fear death.  Death is a promotion.  Let me quote from the Puritan Thomas Watson. 

A pardoned soul needs not fear death. He may look on death with joy who can look on forgiveness with faith! To a pardoned soul, death has lost his sting. Death, to a pardoned sinner, is like arresting a man after the debt is paid; it may arrest—but Christ will show the debt-book crossed out in his blood! A pardoned soul may triumph over death, "O death! where is your sting? O grave! where is your victory?" He who is pardoned need not fear death—it is not to him a destruction—but a deliverance! Death is a day of jubilee or release—it releases him from all his sins. Death comes to a pardoned soul as the angel did to Peter—and beat off his chains, and carried him out of prison. Death smites his body—and the chains of sin fall off. Death gives a pardoned soul a rest, it frees from all his labors.