Fear of Death

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. —Psalms 23:4

Researchers at the University of British Columbia recently discovered that the main ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen, can help calm “existential dread” (fear of death) in the same way it reduces the physical pain of a headache (The Week, May 10, 2013, p. 19).  So if you are freaked out at thought of dying, now you have an over-the-counter solution.

The Bible has a better solution.  Jesus has already taken the sting out of death for those who have received Him as their Savior (1 Cor. 15:55-57).  Through Jesus’ victory over death, He delivers “them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14-15). For the child of God trusting the Lord, death holds no terror, but rather affords a glorious anticipation of release from the limitations of this earthly life into the liberation of the heavenly life.  As Paul said, “To die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

In his book Facing Death, Billy Barnhouse, relates an experience of Donald Grey Barnhouse, one of America’s leading Bible teachers in the first half of the 20th century. Cancer took his first wife, leaving him with three children all under 12. On the day of the funeral, Barnhouse and his family were driving to the service when a large truck passed them, casting a noticeable shadow across their car. Turning to his oldest daughter, who was staring sadly out the window, Barnhouse asked, “Tell me, sweetheart, would you rather be run over by that truck or its shadow?” Looking curiously at her father, she replied, “By the shadow, I guess. It can’t hurt you.” Speaking to all his children, he said, “Your mother has not been overridden by death, but by the shadow of death. That is nothing to fear.”