Nothing to Fear if you are God's

Probably the hardest thing a preacher has to do is preach a funeral for a non-believer. However, even amidst the pain of separation, it is one of the most joyful of occasions when a brother or sister has been set free of the problems of this world to go home to meet God.

Death is still one of mankind's greatest fears. Perhaps it is because of the uncertainties that surround death—the uncertainty of what it will feel like, the uncertainty of an experience we have never had before, the uncertainty of what will happen after we die.

With so much fear and uncertainty surrounding death, wouldn't it be great if we could just avoid death all together? What if, like Enoch, we could be "taken away so that [we] did not see death" (Heb. 11:5; cf. Gen. 5:24)? What if, like Elijah, the Lord would send a chariot of fire with horses and we could go "up by a whirlwind into heaven?" (2 Kings 2:11)

These two men never had to face death. They never had to approach the last day of their life with fear and uncertainty. In fact, while each of them had a "last day of their life" on earth, neither one of them facet1 with fear and uncertainty. Why? What was different about these two men? Is there anything that we can learn from them to help us face the end our lives with hope and certainty? Let us notice just two things about these men.

It is said of Enoch (and no doubt, Elijah, too) that he "walked with God" (Gen. 5:24). Someone once said that while walking one day, God must have turned to Enoch and said, "Since you're always walking closer to my place than yours, why don't you just come in and stay." A fictitious account, but does that describe you? Whose "place" are you closer to—yours or God's?

Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" We often apply this to two men, but in the context, one of the two is God! Enoch could not have walked with God unless "they [were] agreed," and it definitely was not God who needed to agree with Enoch for the two to walk together.

It is said of Enoch (and no doubt, Elijah, too) that he "pleased God" (Heb. 11:5). We need to be like these two men as they were like Jesus. Our Lord said, "... I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:29).

Are you walking with God, in agreement with Him and walking closer to His place than yours? Are you seeking to always please God? If you are, then you have nothing to fear and nothing uncertain to face in death! Remember that God has power over death! (1 Cor. 15:54-57)