“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 ESV

The word “deadly” has been heard from the the media more times than ever during this coronavirus than in any other period of history. 

Today basically our entire population has willingly given up its freedoms. People in the news media have told us there is a deadly threat, and people fearing that deadly threat have willingly given up their freedoms, the likes of which has never been seen before.

Our forefathers and countless others sacrificed their lives, so that we could have the freedoms in America that we currently enjoy. Even knowing that most who went to war might not come home, they willingly went to fight for our freedoms.

But now we a living in the “me first” generation.  This is the generation that not only isn't willing to give up their life for somebody else, they don’t even want to get the flu.

They don’t want their world interrupted or turned upside-down. But that’s exactly what has happened.

This particular generation is willing to give up its freedoms if the government will protect them. But why is that? Well, what drives that is the fear of death.

People are afraid of death. The Bible confirms this in Hebrews chapter 2: 14-15

• "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” — Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

1. Fear of death makes people slaves.

People are terrified of death, and rightly so. We live in a society, perhaps, more afraid of death than any previous society in our country.

They have been literally the focus of all their education, all their philosophical exposure over the last probably thirty, forty years that life revolves around them, that they’re the most important person in their world, and their truth and their objectives and their goals and their dreams and their wishes are the priority.

In fact, you even have a prosperity gospel which basically says, “You just need to tell God what you want and He’ll deliver it.”

This is a very indulgent culture. For them, the fear of death seems to be even greater. So you can literally conquer an entire nation if you can make them be afraid of death and promise that you’re going to step in and deliver them from that terrible fate.

2. We’re all going to die.

Nobody has died in the coronavirus pandemic that wasn’t going to die anyway, nobody.

This is the inevitable reality; and the more starkly people face it, the more they are forced to see their mortality, the more fear it generates in their hearts.

Many try to forget about it and lose themselves in entertainment or drugs.

But they’re housebound, they’re locked up and they can’t easily get to all of their forms of escape.

Drugs aren’t as readily accessible to people in this country as they once were. Normal forms of entertainment, which are escapes for people, are not available.  Sports, which is an escape for a massive part of our generation, are unavailable.

So there is a starkness in this moment in our history that brings the reality of death home with power.

People realize they’re not in control. There are forces out there that they can’t defend themselves against. 

And as believers we need to make sure that we’re available to say, “The Bible says,

• "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 6:23 ESV
  
  
• "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"  — Romans 3:23 ESV

The proof of our sinfulness is our death. Everyone dies, everyone.

3. Death is not the End.

After this, the judgment; and every soul either goes into heaven or into hell.

As Christians, we can see a redemptive opportunity in this coronavirus to speak the realities of the gospel, to declare that God is the one true, living, sovereign, all-glorious God, the God of Scripture.

To declare, secondly, that He is a Savior and a Redeemer of sinners.

To declare, thirdly, that those who reject Him and reject the gospel of His Son will come into judgment.

And, fourthly, that God will send His Son back to establish His kingdom on earth.

So we are to declare the glory of God, the salvation of God, the judgment of God, and the coming kingdom of God.

The Gospel is the only solution to Death

Scripture makes it clear that when we repent, put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, and are born again, we inherit eternal life and death has lost it's sting.

If you are born once, you will die twice. You will die physically and spiritually. But if you are born twice, that is born again — you will only die physically. 

• "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." — Philippians 1:21 ESV
  
  
• "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"  — 1st Corinthians 15:55

We must be born again. We must have our sins dealt with. Our sins must be nailed to the cross, and we must be reconciled to God. Don’t live in fear, but turn to Christ and receive the free gift of salvation.

That's the Good News of the Gospel!

HOW ARE YOU SHARING THE GOOD NEWS?

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