December 3

What are the most common fears of Americans? A poll was taken in October of this year and here are the top 10 personal fears that people have:

1. Fear of flying
2. Fear of public speaking
3. Fear of heights
4. Fear of intimacy
5. Fear of failure
6. Fear of success
7. Fear of the dark
8. Fear of rejection
9. Fear of death
10. Fear of God

Millions of American have a great fear of death. Our culture finds death so frightening that in polite conversation is it the last taboo. Today people talk about sex, politics, finances and never raise an eyebrow, but bring up the topic of death and people start to squirm and sweat. I find that even Christians tend to avoid this subject. But God does not want us to shut our eyes or live in fear of death.

Years ago someone asked the famous preacher John Wesley what was the secret of the Methodist movement? Wesley replied, "Our folks die well." A Roman philosopher once said, "Only idiots and Christians aren't afraid of death." I don't know why idiots aren't afraid of death but as Christians we are fearless as we face death because of our scripture reading today.

1 Cor. 15:20-23 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Our confidence in death is that just as Jesus was raised from the dead so shall we. If Jesus is still in the tomb there is no hope for us, but if he rose, we can laugh in the face of death.

The only way to be saved from the fear of death is to be saved from the penalty of sin. The gospel tells us that we can be forgiven and made right with God. When we are right with God then death becomes a door that we walk through from this life into the next. Only the gospel can make us fearless in the face of this terrible enemy.

Today is accountability day but instead of emailing your status in the journey, send me your responses to the questionnaire sent out on Wednesday. Remember we are FEARLESS!!!