Facing the fear of death

John 14:1-3 (NASB)

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

When I have felt fear about the reality of death, this is the one passage of Scripture that I read again and again to give me encouragement.  Jesus knew that the disciples were troubled because He had just shared with them some troubling truths (read John 13).  Despite His own troubled heart, Jesus reached out to comfort and encourage others just like He did so many other times including His first words on the cross, asking God to forgive those who were being so cruel to Him.  All of us are to reach out and encourage others, yet so few actually do this.  The Lord is our role model in the ministry of encouragement. 

The Bible does not say too much about heaven, but here is one passage that describes heaven as a place with many dwelling places or residences where each believer will stay. My imagination—maybe yours too—runs rampant with thoughts of these dwelling places ranging from huge mansions to little apartment buildings depending on how much fruit you bore while on the earth.  However, I’m just pretending, the Bible is silent about what these dwelling places really will look like.  These heavenly homes where you will be forever someday are where Jesus will be also. 

To think of death not as a horrible thing but as an avenue to arrive at your real home should give comfort to the believer in Christ.  To the non-believer, there is no hope of a heavenly home so the reality of death indeed should bring terrible fear.  Yet, to any non-believer reading this, you have hope of changing your destiny by confessing your sinful ways and asking Jesus to become the Savior and Lord of your life. 

Jesus says that someday He will return and take home all those who believe in Him.  Some believe that verse 3 is Jesus’ own prediction about the rapture.  He is coming again or you simply don’t believe what He says.  These statements of our Lord should give significant relief whenever you starting having fearful thoughts about dying or any other thoughts that cause you to be troubled.

Jesus said “let not” in telling His disciples not to be troubled.  It’s a choice that you have. You can choose to feel anxiety and depression and distress and fear or you can choose to “believe in God, believe also in Me”.  Choosing the latter means that you believe that God is in control; that He knows what He is doing, that He will take care of whatever is troubling you.  Again, an exercise of faith, there’s no other easy way to alleviate the trouble you feel in your heart.

What is the answer to any fear, any trouble in your life? -- Faith that God is in control always!