Nothing To Lose

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. [2 Corinthians 1.8-11]

Oh man, what a telling verse in the Bible!

For all the fear that death holds over people today, Paul revealed hundreds of years ago, how to overcome the fear of death. 

Want to know how to overcome the fear of death? 

Embrace it! Expect to die!

In so doing, Paul said he stopped relying on himself ("ourselves," actually) and learned to rely on God.

Now that is a novel idea, isn't it?

Paul goes on to say that in expecting to die, he found himself rescued from death.

On this day in the year 2021 with COVID seemingly dominating the thoughts of many with the fear of death (another new strain is just presenting itself), I wish the Church would separate itself from worldly thinking and embrace Paul's thinking spelled out here in 2 Corinthians.

Somehow, the world has convinced people that they can control their lives and health. And, there is a valid argument that this idea is true - based on worldly knowledge. However, what worldly thinking does not account for is the transcendent power of God. God, who controls all things, searches the earth for those who will trust Him beyond what they can calculate and reconcile with worldly knowledge (science, math, and the likes).

The first step in breaking free from worldly knowledge is to come to grips with death. Death looms as the "end-all" for the world. But not so for the believer! Even if a believer fails miserably in faith on earth and dies trying to trust God, there remains all eternity of enjoying the presence and joy of the Father in heaven. This person genuinely has nothing to lose on earth.

"Nothing to lose" makes a person fearless. A fearless person has thrown himself headlong into the realm of faith. Of course, there is the factor of "foolishness" but we will leave that topic for those who wish to study it - I am talking here about a person who genuinely wishes to serve and please Almighty God. Fearless Faith is what the three Hebrews demonstrated in the following passage:

Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” [Daniel 3.14-18]

Jesus said it even more clearly:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [Matthew 10.28]

So what should a person fear? Only God - and that, only if that person is found in disobedience.

God help us to have this testimony of not fearing death!

Father, there is so much for the Church to learn about the topic of death. We have so embraced the ideas of the world that we look and act just like them. Forgive us for this!