“Fear of Death” 2-16-25
Overview
Facing the Fear of Death
The fear of death is universal, and it wears many faces. There is the fear of losing control—though James 4:14-15 reminds us that much of the control we imagine we have over our lives is already an illusion, since we do not even know what tomorrow will bring. There is the fear of the unknown, the fear of simply ceasing to exist, and the sober fear of what awaits beyond the grave. Jesus Himself spoke plainly in Luke 12:5 about the One who has authority to cast into hell. Death is no small thing. Scripture calls it an enemy 1 Corinthians 15:26 and an intruder, a consequence of disobedience reaching back to Genesis 2:16-17. It separates the soul from the body and severs us from every temporal blessing.
And yet, from a Roman prison, Paul writes a startling word to the Philippians: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" Philippians 1:21. Gain? Yes—because for the believer, death is the doorway into the full possession of the eternal life already given in Christ. The cross has paid the debt of sin. The waters of baptism have claimed us. Jesus has promised, "I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again and will take you to myself" John 14:2-3. To the thief beside Him, He said, "Today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43—an instantaneous transfer, with no travel time, no waiting room. The Lord holds our days Psalm 139:16, and even through the valley of the shadow of death, He walks with us Psalm 23:4.
This assurance dismantles each fear. The loss of control? God the sovereign One is in control. The unknown? God knows us, and we know His heart toward us in Christ. Non-existence? We are eternal beings, and for the Christian, that existence is in heaven itself. What awaits? The glory Scripture has only begun to describe. God says, in effect, I've got this. And I've got you.
Being at peace with dying transforms how we live. Paul names two dimensions in Philippians 1:20-24: first, that "Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death," and second, that to remain in the flesh means "fruitful labor"—staying for the progress and joy of others in the faith. Life, then, is not a frantic checklist before the clock runs out. Today is one more day in all of eternity—a day to exalt Christ and to serve the needs of those around us. That is a calmer, deeper purpose than any bucket list can offer. So the question worth carrying with you: if you were to write your own obituary in light of Philippians 1, what would it say?
Transcript
Would you open your Bible's please with May 2, Philippians, the first chapter? 3s
Philippians, chapter 1. 10s
If you are using a few addition, you'll find that in the New Testament page 174, 12s
Philippians, chapter 1. 18s
The Pillsbury, Doboy. 22s
Don't know what possessed the author to do it, but he decided to write something about 27s
the Pillsbury Doboy, really that piece of Americana. 35s
And what he wrote was the obituary for the Pillsbury Doboy. 41s
It went like this. 49s
The Pillsbury Doboy died yesterday in Minneapolis of complications from repeated 53s
pokes in the belly. 61s
Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, 65s
Hungry Jack, the California raisins, Betty Crocker, the hostess Twinkies, and Captain 72s
Crunch. 78s
And Chema delivered the ulicy, and lovingly described Doboy as a man who never knew how 80s
much he was needed. 89s
You got it, KNEAD. 94s
Born and bred in Minnesota, Doboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was 99s
filled with turnovers. 106s
He was not regarded as a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. 110s
Despite being a little flaky at times, he was still a crusty old man and served as a positive 119s
role model for millions. 128s
Doboy is survived by his wife, Plato. 133s
Three children, John Doe, Jane Doe, and Ocedoe. 139s
Plus they had one in the oven. 145s
He's also survived by his elderly father, Poptart. 149s
The funeral was held at 350 for about 20 minutes. 155s
You really wonder what the decision making process was as she went about writing that 166s
obituary. 172s
What caused it? 173s
What occasion the author to do that? 175s
The decision was made for us, as part of a class. 182s
At the very end, the professor, one of the early classes, the professor turned and said, 189s
prior to our meeting next time, what I'd like you to do is I'd like you to write in obituary. 196s
So, I'd like you to write your own obituary. 203s
You could sense in the room that had taken people by surprise when he said that. 213s
It really shouldn't have. 220s
After all, the class was on death and dying. 223s
And so we understood why the professor was doing that. 228s
He wanted us to reflect on our own mortality. 232s
Our own mortality. 238s
We're reminded of that each and every day, aren't we? 241s
Reminded of that. 245s
When we hear of a friend or we hear of someone that is in a serious health condition, 248s
when we hear of a tragedy, and we say, well, that's a role that I travel on quite a bit, 256s
or simply the ticking of the clock. 265s
We're reminded of our own mortality all the time, aren't we? 271s
The Bible tells us of Enoc and Elijah. 276s
The Lord took them directly home to heaven without them experiencing death. 279s
But I think it's safe to say that if the Lord terries, 287s
most likely our experience will not be like Enoc and Elijah. 292s
If the Lord terries, I think it's safe to say that we will all experience death. 300s
I think it's safe to say that the fear of death is prevalent. 309s
What is it about that can scare? 326s
The one aspect of it is a loss of control, isn't it? 331s
Supreme loss of control. 338s
But really, when you think of the control in our lives, 343s
so much of what we think we can control in our lives really, isn't illusion, isn't it? 347s
James writes, in James the fourth chapter, 354s
you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life you ought to say? 356s
If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that. 364s
What can scare is the sense of the loss of control? What can scare is the unknown about it all, right? 369s
What will we like when it happens? Will we be aware of it when it happens? One question leads to another. 383s
What we like is we like routine and we like predictability, but there's certainly no predictability 392s
about when death comes. 400s
What can scare is the loss of control? What can scare is the unknown? 407s
What can scare is the thought that will we simply cease to exist? 417s
That we simply will not be. That we're here for now and then we just won't be. 425s
That will become simply part of remembrances and reflections when the generations after us, 442s
all of a sudden think about something about us and they have a conversation, is that what it will be? 448s
What can scare is the sense of destiny? 460s
The Bible talks about heaven and hell. Jesus says and Luke 12, he says, 466s
but I will warn you whom to fear fear him who after he has killed has authority to cast into hell. 471s
What can scare is the loss of control of it? What can scare is the unknown? What can 481s
scare is that will we simply cease to exist? What can scare is what is it that awaits? 487s
And so is there a word of comfort here? Is there a word of assurance with regard to this? 496s
Paul's letter to the church at Philippi was really a thank you note. There's a thank you note. 512s
He was giving thanks for them. He was giving thanks for their support of his ministry. 518s
Look, please, at chapter 1 of Philippians verse 3. 524s
There, Paul writes, I thank my God every time I remember you constantly praying with joy in every 530s
one of my prayers for all of you because if you're sharing in the gospel from the first day until now, 540s
the theme of rejoicing abounds in this little letter. Turn over to chapter 4, please. Verse 4, 549s
there are Paul writes, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. 560s
Rejoicing in the Lord who he is and what he has done, Paul is giving thanks here for the 572s
partnership and the bond that he has with the people. And then he writes, chapter 1, verse 21. 578s
He says, for to me, living is Christ. For to me, living is Christ. Life is about 588s
exulting and worshiping Christ. And then he says, and dying is 600s
gained. 612s
Game? Game? 621s
One author says, the dying that death itself, that itself is an intruder, is the word he uses appropriately. 625s
So death was never part of God's creation. Death came about because of our disobedience. 635s
Genesis 2, chapter. God said, you may freely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree 646s
of the knowledge of good and evil. You shall not eat it for in the day that you eat it that you shall 651s
die. Death is the separation of the soul from the body. Death is described in 657s
1 Corinthians as an enemy. And 1 Samuel, Aegog says, the death is bitterness. Death separates us from 668s
from from all of the temporal blessings that we are surrounded with. Pulse is for to me, 678s
living is Christ and dying is gained. 687s
Game? Game? 696s
There's relatively early on in my ministry, my second call, 707s
lady by the name of Tony. Wonderful lady loved and knew the Lord. 714s
It became apparent that the Lord was going to heal Tony on the other side of Easter. 723s
And as we sat in our hospital room and she knew what the doctor's head told her, 731s
this woman of faith turned to me and she said, so what's going to happen? 739s
What's going to happen? Scripture is such a resource. 749s
And so we opened up the scriptures and we talked about what was going to happen. 756s
So I'm 139, it tells us that the Lord holds our days, the Lord holds the days. 763s
God uses doctors as healing instruments absolutely. Wonderful blessings. 773s
But the doctor doesn't hold the days. The doctor may deliver the diagnosis, but the doctor doesn't 781s
hold the days. The one that holds the days is God. And Psalm 139 says that God holds the days. 788s
We looked at John the 14th chapter where Jesus says, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I 800s
go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself. 809s
That's the victory one through the cross of Jesus Christ where Jesus is born. All of the sin that 815s
should separate us from Him for all of eternity. All of our hell deserving sin. God paid the debt. 820s
The Lord uses Christ shedding His blood. We are washed in the blood. We are claimed in the waters 830s
of baptism. God opens up for us life abundant and life eternal. 837s
Jesus is promised that He goes to prepare a place for us and that He will take us to Himself. 846s
He is the one that holds the days and He will take us to the place that He has prepared for us. 852s
We turn the pages of scripture and we come to Luke 23 where Jesus turns to the thief on the cross 860s
and says today you will be with me in paradise. In response to when the thief turns to Jesus and 866s
says, remember me when you come into your kingdom and the word that is received is today. 874s
Today you will be with me in paradise. So what will happen when it comes it is instantaneous 880s
transfer for the Christian. We are here now and then we are there in the presence of God. There 887s
is no travel time. There is none of that. There is no prolonged period in which we are here on our 894s
way to the glory of paradise. No we are here and then we are there instantaneous. Today you will be with 903s
me in paradise. Psalm 23, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 913s
I fear no evil for you are with me. You are rod in your staff. They comfort me. Even though I walk 923s
through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us. That's John 14. Luke again, 931s
isn't it? I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come and I will 940s
take you to myself. It is the Lord who takes us in the moment of death. It is the Lord that takes 946s
us to the place we have no need to fear. We are reminded. It is instantaneous transfer. 956s
Paul says, it is gain. You see there was one who was in prison. He is writing the church 967s
at Philippi from prison. He doesn't know the outcome of his life. He says, whether I live or whether 982s
I die, he belongs to the Lord and he says, even if he dies, it is gain. It is gain. Why? Because it is 994s
entrance into the full possession of life eternal itself. Beloved in the Lord today is one more 1007s
day and all of eternity for each of you, claimed in the waters of baptism. It's one more day 1016s
in all of eternity. And when that transfer comes, it is gain because you come into the full possession 1023s
of the life eternal that you possess at the very moment. Full possession of it. And we leave behind 1032s
as one author describes it, the temptations, the troubles, the turmoil, the trials. We leave it all behind. 1041s
Paul says, it's gain. It's gain. That means there is no need to fear the loss of control. 1051s
Because God the sovereign one is in control. It means that there is no need to fear the unknown, 1066s
because God knows us through the waters of baptism. And we know His regard for us 1075s
through Christ because of what He has done for us. It means there is no need to fear that simply 1083s
we go into a non-existence. Because the Bible says, we are all eternal beings. And for the Christian, 1090s
the existence is in heaven itself. There is no need to fear what awaits. Because what awaits 1100s
us is the glorious reality of the picture that scripture starts to paint of the beauty of heaven 1109s
itself. God takes that which is associated with the fear of death. The loss of control, 1118s
the unknown, the sense that somehow we won't exist. The what awaits us, He takes us all, 1127s
all off the table with the assurance of His grace. It is God who says, I've got this. 1136s
And I've got you. I've got you. To be at peace with dying, 1148s
affects how we live now, 1171s
to be at peace with the fact that if the Lord carries, we will experience death, 1180s
that affects how we live. And it's two dimensions that Paul highlights. 1190s
Look, please, at verse 20, 1200s
He says, it's my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, 1206s
but that by speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, 1212s
whether by life or by death. See, that's one who can look at the reality of His own mortality. 1222s
Look at the reality of death itself. In prison, wondering, I wonder whether I'm going to live, 1232s
or whether I'm going to die, who could be at peace with death, and what He wants is simply to 1238s
exalt Christ. It peace with death affects how we live, because life then takes on the understanding of. 1246s
All of life is to exalt Jesus Christ and the second aspect of it. He writes in verse 22, 1261s
He says, if I'm to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. I don't know which I prefer. 1272s
I'm hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 1281s
But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I'm convinced of this, I know 1291s
that I'll remain in continue with all of you for your progress and joy and faith, 1298s
so that I may share abundantly in your boasting and Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 1304s
You see, verse 1, who understands with peace of death, that one is to exalt Christ, 1312s
and secondly, to serve the needs of others. There's life, isn't it? There's life. 1319s
It is to say, my life is about exulting Christ and serving others for however long the Lord gives me breath. 1328s
And I'm at peace with dying because I know in whose grasp I'm in. I'm at peace with that, and so then that reshapes life. 1340s
Instead of looking at life this side of heaven that we have to dream everything out of it that we can because time is quickly running out. 1355s
We can look at life and say, today is the day to exalt Christ and to serve the need of the other. 1367s
And that characterizes an understanding of us as eternal beings that today is one more day in all of eternity. 1378s
It's simply a matter of where. 1389s
To be at peace with dying allows us to approach life with a calm and a purpose. 1394s
That is so much greater than simply trying to accomplish a list before the time runs out. 1410s
See the difference? 1421s
That today is one more day in all of eternity to exalt and as long as the Lord gives me breath this side of heaven. 1426s
I want to serve the needs of others. 1437s
That's life. That's life in the. 1444s
It was really an interesting assignment. 1452s
Really interesting. 1457s
To write my own a bituary. 1462s
So if you were to write your own a bituary today. 1470s
In light of Philippians 1, what can you write? 1477s
What can you write? 1489s