If I had to choose one word to describe our world the past year it would be “fear.” Fear has been used as a tool to control the emotions, decisions, and actions of billions of people, most certainly the 330 million who live in the United States.

Can I tell you something? I’ve not had one moment of fear. (Plenty of frustrated moments, but absolutely no fear at all.)

Why? In a verse, I can tell you…

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself 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. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

We’re studying Hebrews using Jen Wilkin’s DVD study, and she made a profound statement about this verse that I had never really thought about.

Every fear, no matter how big or small, is rooted in the fear of death.

Why are we afraid to ride a roller coaster? It might go off the rails and we might die.

Why are we afraid to fly in an airplane? It might crash, and we might die.

Why are we afraid we might lose our job? We won’t have money to eat or live and we might die.

Why are we afraid to catch a virus? It might make us sick enough to die.

Why are we afraid not to wear a mask? We might catch a virus that will make us sick enough to die.

Our small fears are also rooted in death, usually the death of our pride. Fear of telling someone about Jesus…fear of confronting a brother or sister…fear of doing something that will make us look foolish.

There are some things that make me nervous. I don’t actually look forward to the process of dying; it’s usually painful and scary and no one likes to lose control of their body and mental faculties. But I have no fear of dying because two thousand years ago Jesus walked out of the tomb and took the power of death away from the devil.

Fear is gone, and life abundant and life eternal is now possible.

Why should I fear death? God planned the day I will die before I was born, and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, I can do to change that. God gave us intelligence and wisdom to make choices that affect our quality of life, but we can’t change the day of our death. My choices may affect how I die, but the day my soul and spirit will leave this body is already determined.

God was there when I was created, and He has the appointment on His calendar (written down in indelible ink) to meet me when I die.

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Fear comes from the enemy. He wants you to think that he still has power over your life and death. And if you do not belong to Christ, you are still living in slavery to the fear of death, even though Christ has paid for your freedom to walk out of it. You are there by choice.

That’s what Resurrection Day is all about. Jesus freed us from the power of death, and made a way to heaven, where we will enjoy the life we were created to have. We have nothing to fear. Praise the Lord! Thank you, Jesus! May we all walk in the freedom of the new life available in You today!