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DEATH
I do not fear
The valley of the shadow,
Nor the gateway at its end;
The door that brings me
Face to face,
With my eternal Friend.
"To be absent from the body,
Is present with the Lord,"
The threat of death is shallow,
The taste of death, reward.
by R.g. Wallace
6/5/96
The believer never ever needs to fear physical death.
Death for the one who has trusted in Christ as savior is simply a doorway
into the presence of The Godhead.
If we can recognize that God is in control of our life and has a specific
purpose for keeping the believer here on earth, then we can know that He
will never let anything happen to the "trusting" believer unless
it is something He
specifically wants to happen. And then, no matter how unattractive it may
appear from the human viewpoint, we know that if it is what God wants for
us, then it is the very best thing for us at that moment of time.
Let me outline here a brief orientation to death so that the foundation
can be laid which will enable the believer, who will trust the faithfulness
of God and the truth of His word, to relax and be at peace in the face
of the greatest physical pressures.
Romans 8:18
For I evaluate that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
ORIENTATION TO DEATH
1. God is the controller of life and death.
Deut. 32:39; Numbers 24:23; 1 Sam. 2:6
2. Because of Christ's victory on the cross and His resurrection,
death has no sting for the believer. 1 Cor. 15:55-57
3. For the believer, death is simply the doorway into the presence
of God. Ec. 12:6-7
A. Prior to the resurrection of Jesus, at death, the believer went
into a place of comfort called "paradise." Luke 16:19-25
B. After the resurrection of Jesus, at death, the soul of the
believer departs to be with Christ. 2 Cor. 5:8; Philip. 1:21, 23
4. The believer has the promise of bodily resurrection as a source of comfort
and motivation during life here on earth.
A. The promise: 1 Cor. 15:49-53; Phil. 3:21;
B. The comfort and motivation: 1 Cor. 15:58
5. The believer has the promise of a special dwelling place with Christ
for all eternity.
A. The dwelling place: John 14:1-3
B. The New Jerusalem: Rev. 21:1-7
6. The believer can know that God is in control of his life.
A. My times are in your hands: Psalm 31:15
B. Valuable in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his "grace ones."
Psalm 116:15
C. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ.
Romans 8:35-39
7. Therefore the believer can face death with peace and confidence.
A. The valley of the shadow is not to be feared. Ps. 23:4
B. We need not fear even though thousonds may die around us.
Psalm 91:5-14
C. If God does allow us to die, "not a hair of our head will perish."
Luke 21:16-18
8. But the comfort and peace about death is not "automatic."
It requires an orientation in the soul that produces confidence. Rom. 15:4,
13.
9. For the believer who walks "out of fellowship" with The Father,
there can only be worry and fear about every little or big pressure in
life.
This is not the quality of life that God desires His children to experience,
but He will not MAKE them trust in His word and enter into the peace and
joy of the abundant life.
10. Examples of believers facing death: Heb. 11:13-16; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 2
Pet. 1:12-14, 18; Gen. 49:29-33; 50:24-25;
THE PROMISES
1 Thessalonians 4:13
But we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
about those who have died,
so that you might not grieve
as do the rest who have no hope
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our body
is torn down,
we have a building from God,
a house not made with hands
eternal in the heavens
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are of good courage
and prefer rather
to be absent from the body
and face to face with the Lord
Romans 14:8
For if we live
we live for the Lord,
or if we die,
we die for the Lord;
therefore whether we live or die,
we are the Lord's
Philippians 1:23
To depart and be with Christ
for that is very much better
Psalm 116:15
Valuable in the sight of the Yahweh
is the death of His saints
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil;
for YOU are with me
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
O death, where is your victory
O death, where is your sting?
Thanks be to God
Who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ
Psalm 91:3-4
For it is He who delivers you
from the snare of the trapper
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
and under His wings
you may seek refuge.
His faithfulness
is a shield and bulwark
Psalm 91:5-9
You will not be afraid
of the terror by night,
or of the arrow that flies by day;
of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that lays waste at noon
For you have made Yahweh
"my refuge"
even the Most High
your dwelling place
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