All Glory to God the Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ
From Westminster Shorter Catechism, questions 23 to 26
Q23: What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A23: Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.
Q24: How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A24: Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
Q25: How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A25: Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.
Q26: How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A26: Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
This last Sunday, I was asked by Aaron, the pastor of First Baptist Church, to give my testimony and the subject was to be Fear of Death. The video above is that testimony.
My Sister in Law and Mother in Law were in attendance and asked me to use that for our bible study at South Grove. As to why we will now have bible study in person at South Grove versus waiting for our Governor to release his COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency, it has become clear to me that this COVID-19 is being used by the government and they, those that rule us, have no intention to remove this Peacetime Emergency anytime soon. In fact I have read recently of a “Doubling Down” of conditions imposed on us when the flu season starts amping up. I don’t deny that COVID-19 can be lethal to certain age groups and health conditions. It is much more selective than the flu but at a death rate of .02% – as such it cannot be considered pandemic. A nasty flu year is more than this and they never cared before. All the same, if you are health compromised or nervous about this virus, take precautions. Biblically, the only people asked to take precautions were those in the house of those affected by whatever calamity or village of an outbreak. Never the whole population.
Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked.
So once again we see, nothing new under the sun.
Fear of Death. I would consider that to be a prevalent idea among people. It was for me, I tried to eat right, keep my weight down and paid attention to various health sciences. I still took risks, according to my wife. I was a man after all. With the exception of risk taking, this was an effort on my part to prolong my life.
That all changed when God gave notice to me that it was time to stop fooling around. I of course resisted at first, but I have found that God is patient and has an ironic sense of humor when it comes to justice. My strength and skills were of great pride to me. And here I can use the bible to illustrate the key to this story, I will draw from Judges 7 verse 2. Gideon was told by God to raise any army to fight the Midians.
The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’
It was “Too Much” and that is exactly what would have happened with me. If God had selected me as I was, my pride would have taken control and then we would move into the parable of the soils:
Luke 8:5-8 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
I am betting with my strength and skill intact, I would not have ears to hear, metaphorically speaking. But God knows this and when you are elected to His saving Grace, you are transformed and your previous objects fall away.
I gave in, and repented when I could not fight this or fix it, I could only submit. And I started reading the scripture. An interesting thing when your heart is transformed from a dry branch to the Living Water you do things you said you would never do.
So here we are. Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. We’ve all heard that. We have also heard that heaven is a boring place. You get a robe, a harp and a cloud and that’s pretty much how your days go. Where did those little jewels of wisdom come from? (said in my ironic voice) Not the bible, that’s for sure. The only other logical way you would have an irrational fear of death or boredom with going to heaven would be satan. He is the lion the prowls around, roaring. Have you been listening?
There is a solution to all that you fear. Read the scripture. Now I know not all of us here have read the bible. Some of you have trouble reading due to dyslexia or never learned to read properly or eyesight is bad. Some of you are just not interested. Those of you that have trouble reading, know that there are audio versions of the complete bible and you can let me know if you’re interested in that. Those of you that can read well and read for enjoyment, but just aren’t interested, what’s the deal? Know that anyone interested in God, God is interested in you.
This from John MacArthur’s devotionals “If you’re not committed to righteousness, you not only make yourself spiritually vulnerable, but also forfeit some of God’s wonderful blessings. David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation” (Ps. 51:13). His sin had robbed him of his joy and assurance. That’s true of us as well because joy is directly proportional to obedience. If you’re pursuing greater righteousness, you’ll know greater joy.”
Isaiah 65:1
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. There is no good reason you could not read a chapter or 2 of the bible every day. Consider it mandatory maintenance for your soul. Just going to church or bible study is not going to cut it.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
So read your bible or come talk to me later about why you think you can’t. I truly understand, as I was the same way once.
Back to the subject at hand, my fear of death vanished after reading the scriptures.
James 4:7
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Obey God and the devil will flee from you. Sure you might hear him prowling around, roaring, but that will recede as you grow in faith. Sanctification is a process, not an event. You may be of small faith but trying to obey God and satan’s roars are loud. As you walk in faith, you learn from the scriptures that you can put on the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:13 which is needed because when you get stronger in faith, satan will become more insistent in turning you away.
But if you obey God, satan cannot tear you away.
But still there is fear of death. Is it the unknown that bothers you? We know what happens when we die. Sure it’s uncomfortable, but none of us will be nailed to a cross and have God’s wrath poured out upon us for our sins. Jesus did that, for us, for those that would believe. And there’s more.
John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
We have a place in heaven, with our Savior. Dying, while uncomfortable is worth standing before our Lord and Savior, basking in His glory. All tears are wiped away, along with all your worries and troubles. How can you fear death when this awaits you? Obey God, put on his full armor and stop paying attention to your fears, which means stop listening to satan.
Our primary duty to God is to give honor and glory to Him. This is the purpose of Man, why we were created. When you are obeying God, and satan is fleeing, concerns of death recede. They may not disappear but concerns should be given to Christ, who is holding you in his firm grasp.
John 10:27-30
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
You were selected by the Father, as a gift of love, to the Son. It was a transfer from one firm hand to another. There is no safer place to be. This is why it is so important to read the scripture, study it. You will be drawn to it if you are obeying God. And when you have read the scripture, your understanding will increase and soon you will have the tools you need to serve your Lord, Savior and King so that you may be raised up on that last day. Death has been conquered by Christ and there is no need to fear. Go forth, having faith in God and acting on that faith. Know that even though the world has changed, God is as He has always been. Unchanging and with His Law still valid to this day. That should give you confidence enough to act as a believer. Go forth and do so.