Proverbs 10:24. What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
As soon as mankind sinned, dread entered the world. Ever since then, fear and dread have been the ongoing plague of the wicked. Why? Because we all know that eventually our sins will find us out. We know that we reap what we sow. That our days are numbered. Eventually we will receive the very thing we most fear.
In Hebrews 2 this dread is identified as the fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15. 14Since 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, 15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Why do the wicked fear death? Is it the fear of facing God? Is it the fear of judgment? The fear of the unknown? The fear of knowing that they will soon be forgotten? The fear of having lived a meaningless life? The fear of shame?
Of course death is inevitable for us all. One out of every one people dies. Why is that? Because everyone is wicked. We’re born that way. Therefore, we are born dying. And as soon as we realize our own mortality, we are seized by what Hebrews calls the power of death that subjects us to lifelong slavery.
But what Proverbs 10 and Hebrews 2 agree on is that there is a “Door B.” Yes, it is still death’s door, but it leads to a whole ‘nother reality. Every desire granted. Deliverance from the slavery of fear. Entrance into the presence of God.
Christ in us has transformed us from wicked to righteous. Along with this new identity comes whole new desires. Christ in us today is the preview of this greatest of desires and greatest of rewards – God with us! The presence of Holy Spirit in us today guarantees that one day we will consciously enjoy the unending presence of Trinitarian delight. Fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).
You: What do you fear most? Do you fear death?
You in Christ: How does trusting our union with Christ remove not only the fear of death but every other fear as well.
Christ in you: Is there anything you are dreading? How might Christ in you transform your outlook?
Pray: Father, not only will you grant all my desires, YOU ARE my greatest desire. May Christ in me remind me of my destiny with you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 