Because God's children are human beings-made of flesh and blood-Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form.For only as a human being could He die,and only by dying could He break the power of the Devil,who had the power of death.Only in this way could He deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. -Hebrews 2:14-15.
The fear of death
A wealthy neighbor of ours could see the gravestones of the cemetry behind his garden through the windows of his house.Even the stone cross on the family grave could be distinguished.But the thought that one day he,too,would be laid in that grave he found unbearable.
In other to avoid that embarrassing sight he had a row of poplar trees planted along his land.From year to year foliage increased,and soon the graves in the cemetry were invisible.However,the neighbor still had no peace.He had,so to speak,had a wall built between himself and death,but the reality on the other side remained unrelenting.He had often heard of Jesus and of the forgiveness that all experience who recognize themselves as lost before God.But he found no fault with himself.
Finally he died at an advanced age after a short,but serious illness.Did he,in his final moments,accept Jesus as his Saviour when alone with God? His corpse broke through that fearful wall of poplars.But what about his soul? Where is it? With Jesus,or far from Him?
No-one troubled by the thought of death should try to suppress it.Jesus Christ loves everyone of us,just as we are.Anyone can,and should,go to Him with his fears.Whoever acknowledges that he is a sinner and confesses his sins receives forgiveness and peace of heart and mind.