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Fear of Death


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#1 Candice

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Posted 05 January 2019 - 12:31 PM

I'm going to post this without edit and caring about structure as I just want to be perfectly honest.

 

I have to admit I'm afraid of death and open this topic for those who want to reply sincerely and helpfully. 

 

It's the transition of this life, leaving it.....I guess it's about being deceived somehow in the end to follow a false spirit.  It's crazy but true.  I'll post this as not to hijack your post here.  I've been wanting to post for some time, but don't want the post waylaid.

 

I watched my father refuse Christ at the end of his 83 years.  A pastor visited him and this was good in my eyes as he was close to my father's age and I believed he might have been more credible than his daughter.  There was no "believing and receiving" that I know of...at least no outwardly.  I watched my father reach upwards, smile and pass on as if he saw someone and was happy. But, he was on morphine which I believe can cause hallucinations?  I don't look at that as any kind of "sign".

 

I want to pass freely without fear from this life.   I know the scripture,  "absent from the body, present with the Lord."  I also know the scripture, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

 

Finally, I want to serve the Lord with my life now that I'm 62 and done parenting and such and could just go to Haiti for six months each year to help however or whatever. I don't need to work any more but do so to "contribute" to life.   I believe my husband would not be keen on this.....he does not have that burden for sure.  I don't want to go against him at all.

 

SO, the last scripture, "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." seems to apply to me.

 

Thank you for your insights as offered.

 

 

 


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#2 retrbe

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Posted 06 January 2019 - 07:48 AM

 Greetings Candice,

 

    I, like you and suppose most humans, have also feared death, either currently or in the past. However as born again Christians we must look to and at the Message of the Cross. We died with Christ on the Cross, we were buried with Christ, and we arose with Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory".

 

   If we believe in Christ, and have asked Him to forgive us of our sins,and have accepted Him as our Lord & Savior, then what Christ accomplished at the Cross takes that fear away. Sin was forever Atoned at the Cross, which took away the sting of death. Due to death being conquered, the grave is no more, all because of what Christ did at the Cross.

 

   The Word of God is our Promise, that our salvation was paid in full at the Cross. Therefore, let no man deceive you. We have to put on the whole armour of God in these last days in order to resist and comfront the enemy. We are His child and He cares for us. The Holy Spirit guides our daily walk and we will know the truth from Him and the truth will set us free.

 

   May God`s Blessings be upon you forever,

 

William Towe


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#3 retrbe

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Posted 06 January 2019 - 08:16 AM

 Greetings Candice,

 

    I, like you and suppose most humans, have also feared death, either currently or in the past. However as born again Christians we must look to and at the Message of the Cross. We died with Christ on the Cross, we were buried with Christ, and we arose with Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory".

 

   If we believe in Christ, and have asked Him to forgive us of our sins,and have accepted Him as our Lord & Savior, then what Christ accomplished at the Cross takes that fear away. Sin was forever Atoned at the Cross, which took away the sting of death. Due to death being conquered, the grave is no more, all because of what Christ did at the Cross.

 

   The Word of God is our Promise, that our salvation was paid in full at the Cross. Therefore, let no man deceive you. We have to put on the whole armour of God in these last days in order to resist and comfront the enemy. We are His child and He cares for us. The Holy Spirit guides our daily walk and we will know the truth from Him and the truth will set us free.

 

   May God`s Blessings be upon you forever,

 

William Towe

 

(P.S.)  READ EPHESIANS 6:  12-18

 

(P.S.)  READ EPHESIANS 6:  12-18



#4 reader

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Posted 07 January 2019 - 06:20 AM

A. W. Tozer Devotional 1-7-19

 

Love Disposes Him

The world is full of enemies, and as long as we are subject to the possibility of harm from these enemies, fear is inevitable. The effort to conquer fear without removing the causes is altogether futile. The heart is wiser than the apostles of tranquility. As long as we are in the hands of chance, as long as we must look for hope to the law of averages, as long as we must trust for survival to our ability to outthink or outmaneuver the enemy, we have every good reason to be afraid. And fear hath torment.

To know that love is of God and to enter into the secret place leaning upon the arm of the Beloved—this and only this can cast out fear. Let a man become convinced that nothing can harm him and instantly for him all fear goes out of the universe. The nervous reflex, the natural revulsion to physical pain may be felt sometimes, but the deep torment of fear is gone forever. God is love and God is sovereign. His love disposes Him to desire our everlasting welfare and His sovereignty enables Him to secure it. Nothing can hurt a good man.

     The body they may kill:

     God's truth abideth still,

      His kingdom is forever.

               Martin Luther

1John 4:17 ¶ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 


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#5 Charles Miles

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Posted 07 January 2019 - 07:13 AM

I guess maybe I`m a little different when discussing the topic of death from this human life. I do have children and grandchildren, my family life is good, relationship with my wife Judi is about as fine as can be, so, you see I have no pressing need to leave this life at this time.  BUT, I can see the glorious life within the glorious, fulfilled kingdom of God. In no way do I fear death. Yes, there are some who will be sad but if they are sad, they misunderstand where I am and who I am with, I do have total assurance about the next step after death and it is exciting

 

I have left written instruction about what to do after I leave.  Sing some great old hyms, and then have a party.  I want everyone to know that this is a celebration, certainly not a wake. I am the lucky one who has gone to all the rewards. Just think a bit here. Some down here are crying and sad that old Charlie is gone, but ol Charlie is up there with my family, one arm around the leg of Jesus and one arm around the leg of God, praising them both to the top of my lungs. It`s not sad there, the joy is overflowing, and all my irrelivent questions are already answered before I even ask.

 

As I understand death, it is a door that we all must pass through. Do I fear death? Absolutely not! Am I excited about actually being with my savior and God. Talking to the saints and my family, sitting down with Billy Graham again, giving Mr Owen Copper a big hug, and seeing my wife who went on before me(Fan). 

 

Actually, for me, death has no sting.

 

May God bless all of you. I know he will because He said He would,

 

Charlie

.


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#6 Meema

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Posted 11 January 2019 - 04:13 AM

Maybe I’m overthinking this but I don’t know what ‘works’ means in terms of what I’m supposed to do before I die. Sometimes I think it comes down to nothing more than definitions of language and the meaning of some fluid adjectives, like small, big, happy, rich, poor, hard, some, many, few. So, how does one define the noun love? Love pops up in the New Testament quite a lot but the definition depends mostly on individual perspective and circumstance. Love your neighbor as yourself sounds good but there’s no bullet point list to explain what one has to do to love one’s neighbor. The best we can do is form a generic place holder that imparts a vague concept that allows for different situations to determine how love is supposed to look like or behave. Sometimes it comes down to simply not hating your crazy neighbor. 

 

So how does one define the word ‘works’ in the context of Christians following Scripture by the letter rather than the spirit?

 

No doubt in my mind that modern churches have taken a dark path in all sorts of ways but in my opinion those who nit-pick over semantics are just as deluded because they focus on the pixel instead of the big picture that all the pixels come together to create. 

 

What determines works then? How many different circumstances might one saved individual be unable to fulfill another person’s view of works? We were told that we are one in the Body but can have different jobs - the feet can’t do what the eyes do. A homebound Christian can’t stand on the sidewalk and pass out pamphlets or serve meals to the homeless, but he/she can do intercessory prayer. Does that quality as works? 

 

Just like the word love the interpretation of works stems from an individual calling and that can only come from an intimate personal relationship with Christ. Good works do not create salvation. Good works are the result of salvation. It’s what we do because we are so full we desire to give back. Jesus said to His followers, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16  

 

What are good deeds and who gets to be the decider and judge other than Christ? 

 

I understand your desire to do something, but if your circumstances limit you from doing what you think you should be doing, maybe there is something else you have not considered - like writing a book? I don’t know - just brainstorming. :-)