Death is always a troubling experience. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding it, no matter how long it may have been expected or how sudden, no matter how old and sick the person may have been, or how young and healthy, death is always hard. Yet, listen to the words of Jesus in John 14, “Let not your heart be troubled…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (v. 1, 27). There are four reasons why you can face death without fear.
The Security of Salvation
John 14:1 in its entirety says, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Do you have a troubled heart or a trusting heart? 1 John 5:12-13 says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…” (See also John 3:26, 5:24, 6:47 and Acts 16:31). Jesus said let not your heart be troubled because you believe in God. Salvation is all of God. You cannot do anything to earn your salvation and you cannot do anything to lose your salvation. It is a gift called grace. The Father planned our salvation before the foundation of the world. The Son provided our salvation on the cross. The Holy Spirit protects our salvation sealing us to the day of redemption. Jesus said in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” The acceptance and security that you are looking for is found in Jesus. He also said in John 17:12, “All that the Father gave me I have not lost one except the son of perdition that the scriptures might be fulfilled.” If anyone ever loses their salvation Jesus would become a liar. Security is not in a place, it is in a person.
The Hope of Heaven
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (Jn. 14:2). Jesus was a carpenter. He is building His church and He is building an eternal home for that church in heaven. The father’s house is big enough for all His children. Think of all the places you love to go. Maybe the beach, the mountains, on a cruise. No matter how much you enjoy those places, after a while you start longing for home. Heaven is as real as the house and address you live at on this earth. If there was a place on earth where there was no more cancer, no more heart attacks, no more strokes, no more viruses, you would want to go there no matter the cost. There is a place better than that where God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain.
The Certainty of His Coming
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself…” (Jn. 14:3). We celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas. Jesus came to this earth, born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He lived a perfect life that none of us can live and He prepared the way for us to get to heaven by dying on the cross and defeating death. The second coming of Jesus is the most mentioned event in the Bible. Out of 260 chapters in the New Testament it is mentioned 318 times! The last prayer of the Bible is “Even so come Lord Jesus.” The Bible is clear that Jesus is coming, the dead in Christ will experience resurrection, and believers who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. One of the hardest things in life is saying goodbye. There is going to be a family reunion that death, hell, and the grave cannot stop!
The Promise of His Presence
“…that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). Life is filled with fear. “We all have fears of something or someone. The Lord’s admonition ‘Do not be afraid’ is always coupled with ‘I am with you.’ The presence of the Lord is what dispels our fears.” God said in Isaiah 40:10, “Fear not, for I am with you.” You are not alone! There will be days of crisis and death, but we never have to face them alone. God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us.
What do you do when you are afraid? You do like the Psalmist and trust in God. “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You… In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid” (Ps. 56:3, 11). God is all knowing, all powerful, and always present. Nothing can happen to us without his permission. Jesus has made a way.
1. Adapted from Gospel for the Graveside, Paul Powell, pg 32.
2. Be Transformed, Warren Wiersbe, pg 28.
