Do not fear death; fear living in unbelief
Many people deeply fear physical death, seeing it as the ultimate end of their existence. However, for a believer, death is nothing frightening—it’s merely a moment of changing garments, shedding the earthly body, and transitioning to the Father. Scripture explicitly teaches us that Yeshua came to defeat death.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes in the Epistle to the Hebrews that Christ took on flesh and blood, “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). The fear of death underlies all other fears: war, hunger, illness, and various calamities. People fear the unknown, often claiming that no one returns from the place where we go after death. But this is not true—Christ has risen and conquered death itself.
The Lord doesn’t merely free us from fear; He fills us with faith. Yeshua imparted the Holy Spirit to His disciples, instructing them, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and this word has reached us through generations. God’s Word carries within itself the power of fulfillment, liberating us from the fear of death and instilling faith in our hearts for the Lord’s victory over death.
Believers do not merely believe intellectually; they believe wholeheartedly. “With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). Intellectual faith tends to be weak and easily shaken, while heart-based faith is strong and unwavering. Those who genuinely believe in Yeshua’s redeeming sacrifice have already addressed death during their earthly life, completely entrusting their lives to God.
The prophet Isaiah speaks about the Messiah’s sacrificial feat: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days” (Isaiah 53:10). Through His sacrifice, we are justified and liberated from sin and death’s power. Although our physical bodies remain temporarily mortal, our spiritual lives have already become eternal due to Christ’s victory.
Christ taught His followers not to be troubled but to believe in God and in Him, promising that He would prepare a place for us in His Father’s house and return for us. When the time comes to leave this world, the Messiah Himself comes for the believer, transforming death into merely a passage to the true world—the Kingdom of God.
Living in unbelief is far more terrifying than physically dying. When we live in unbelief, we grant the devil power over our lives. The Lord is the God of faith, whereas the devil is the master of doubt and unbelief. Every doubt a believer entertains opens doors for the enemy. Therefore, believers must firmly resist unbelief by anchoring their lives in the Word of God.
Apostle Paul reminds us that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). As long as we live on earth, faith is essential for confronting doubts and unbelief. Faith is a gift intended for our spiritual victory. Through faith, we not only attain spiritual liberation but also experience joy and confidence about our future.
Every person will eventually stand before God, and what matters at that moment isn’t what one has said but what one genuinely believed in their heart. Faith, expressed through life and actions, remains as a testimony even after physical death. It is this kind of faith, like Abel’s offering, that will continue to speak beyond our earthly existence.
Therefore, it is vital for us to continually seek God, delve deeply into His Word, engage in prayer, and grow spiritually. Only then will the fear of death lose its grip entirely. The Lord urges us to live by faith, conquering doubt and unbelief, and standing firm in the truth of His Word. Our faith must be living and active, guiding us confidently into eternal life with God.
Pastor Oren lev Ari