The fear of dying is one of the top two fears afflicting people. Some research states it is the most common fear, while other studies place it second behind public speaking. I couldn’t find any concrete numbers detailing what percentage of Christians fear death, but over the years, I have heard more than a few believers express a fear of dying.
That’s a little hard for me to get my head around because true followers of Christ want nothing more than to spend eternity with Him. We can’t do that until we die. To my mind, it is irrational for someone who believes in the resurrection of Jesus to have any fear of dying. We might fear the circumstances that lead to our death, but dying itself should fill us with nothing but hope and joy (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Philippians 1:21-23).
Every day we toil in this life is to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17). We understand this world is not our home (Philippians 3:19-20; Hebrews 13:14; 1 Peter 2:11), and that the things of this world are temporary. (2 Corinthians 4:18; 1 John 2:17) Nothing we do here will last and we can’t keep anything we acquire (1 Timothy 6:7). There is no hope in this world (Ephesians 2:12). It’s all going to burn away in the end (2 Peter 3:10). Thousands of years ago, Solomon was, of course, correct when he wrote “everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Those without Christ are without hope. What will it mean if you live the most amazing life on this earth only to hear Jesus tell you to depart from His presence (Matthew 7:21-23; Mark 8:36)? The end is the only thing that matters. Dying is the only way to live (John 12:24-25).
Just as we shouldn’t fear a physical death, we should have no fear of dying to ourselves here on earth (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20). There is nothing here worth pursuing more than Jesus (Philippians 3:8-10). If you spend your life obsessing over Him and His Word, it will be more satisfying than you ever imagined. You will possess limitless amounts of peace and joy. Life with Jesus is the ultimate experience, both now and forever.
Do you have a fear of dying? If you’ve never bowed your knee to the Lordship of Christ, I understand and you have every reason to be terrified beyond all imagination. Death isn’t the end. You are going to spend eternity living with Jesus in perfection and peace, or cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:15). If that were to be my fate, there are no words to describe the level of horror I would be feeling.
You don’t have to have a fear of dying. Jesus has made a way for you to live forever (John 11:25-26; Romans 6:23). He loves you and desires for you to come to Him. It’s as simple as confessing with your lips that Jesus is Lord and accepting the gift of salvation He offers to you (Romans 10:9-10). You will either believe Jesus is who He said He is, or you’ll reject Him in favor of this world. Believing in Him leads to eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18). Rejecting Him means eternal Hell (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36). Don’t wait to make your choice.