Resurrection Eliminates Our Fear of Death

When this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Corinthians 15:54–57

The empty tomb also eliminates our fear of death. If we are honest, all of us are apprehensive about death. We wonder what awaits us on the other side of the grave. It was Job who asked perhaps the foundational question of all time: “If a man dies will he live again?” (Job 14:14). Is this life all that there is or is there something beyond the grave? If my mother and father die will they live again? If my husband or wife dies will I see him or her again? If my child dies will he live again? When the inevitable day of my own death comes, will I live again?

The empty tomb provides the answer to that question. Look at Hebrews 2, beginning in verses 14–15: “Therefore since the children share in flesh and blood He [Jesus] likewise also partook of the same that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Jesus Christ has freed us from the fear of death because He has freed us from death itself.

You see, the Bible says that if we are in Christ—if we trust Him as our Savior—then we will also experience victory over death. Paul said, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). When you trust in Jesus as your Savior, it’s like you’re grabbing hold of Jesus’ coattails. And just as Jesus was raised from the dead, someday you and I are going to be raised from the dead as well.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only answer to the problem we’re all going to face one day—that six-foot grave. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25–26).

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Simple Answers to Sincere Questions,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.