It's Only Death And That Is All. No Need To Fear.

A pastor friend of mine who now serves in Troy, Michigan, told me once about how, as a minister, he has been a close observer to the last dying moments of quite a few people he has been requested to administer final rites to.

He said that he could not help but notice how those whom he knew for certain did not have God in their lives struggled hard in their exit. He told of one who fearfully pointed to menacing figures unseen by the others in the room but the dying person swore were outside the windows looking in. The dying man said they have come to get him. He kept saying, "Please, don't let them get me."

In stark contrast, those whom he knew have received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and God, went away as though only easing into a deep sleep. Peacefully, comfortably they went, some even with almost a hint of a smile in their face.

I have another pastor friend who actually suffered a heart attack and nearly died. When he was revived, he said, "Dying is painless."

Still another Christian friend who recently died spoke in her last moments of seeing angels coming to pick her up. She was hearing angels from far away singing.

The devil enslaves men by their fear of death. Jesus, by his sinless death on the cross and by his resurrection has destroyed him who holds the power of death, the devil, and freed men from their fear of death.

Scripture:
"...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. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:14-18)

Observation:
Jesus was not helping angels but humanity when He left heaven and became a man. God was not leaving one stone unturned in ensuring that Jesus would be a merciful and faithful high priest, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people He is to call brothers. Having been tempted while in the form of man, He is able to help man who, being flesh, is subject to temptation. Christ successfully fought off temptation and died without sin. He rose again from the dead and utterly obliterated the devil whose only hold on man is their slavery to the fear of death.

Application:
I am not a slave to sin and its wages which is death. Christ is my merciful and faithful high priest. Dying without sin on the cruel cross, and rising again on the third day, Christ paid for my sin debt and moved me from this earthly life to eternal life. I may die a physical death, as everyone would, but it will only usher me into the eternal life that Christ's victory has bought for me.

Prayer:
Praise and glory be to the Son! Praise and glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

July 5, 2007 entry to the personal handwritten journal I use in my quiet time with God.