John 10:28
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
No Fear of Death
What is the worst thing that could happen to a believer in Christ? Is it death? No, because in the moment or the twinkling of an eye, they’d be in the presence of God, so why do we fear death so much? Here may be part of the reason that even the believer in Jesus Christ may fear death. We might have doubts about our security in the Lord, even though Jesus said not one of us will be lost who trust in Him (John 6:39), and to believe in Him means that they will never, ever perish (John 3:16). We are saved by faith, and it is a free gift from God and does not depend on our own human effort, thankfully (Ephesians 2:8-9).
No Turning Away
We know from the Word of God that whoever believes in Jesus will never be rejected and that everyone who comes to Him in saving belief will never be turned away (John 6:37). I have talked to countless people who continually live in fear and doubt over death. One person thought that if he were to die today, he couldn’t be sure that he’d go to heaven. I tried to tell him that feelings are one of the most unreliable of all things in this life, but God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), and since we know that Jesus is also God, He reassures that whoever has put their trust in Him has, as a present possession, eternal life (John 3:16; John 6:40). Jesus’ statements about having eternal life are given in the Greek verb tense called the aorist imperative form, indicating it is in the past tense, meaning it’s a done deal. Therefore, eternal life is a present possession; it’s not a hopeful reality. Saving faith in God is not a hope-so but a know-so (Romans 8:35-39).
No Fear from Death
I often recommend to people who have continually battled fears over their death and the lack of assurance in their salvation to read the Gospel of John because this gospel, unlike the others, gives many bedrock assurances that a person who has placed their faith in Him has no need to fear the future, including death. When He says “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,” He means it (John 10:28a) and that no one can ever take those who trust in Him out of His or the Father’s hand (John 10:28b-29). We must remember that God’s wrath has already been placed on Jesus and has been removed from us, so we who have believed now have peace with God (Romans 5:1), and there is no more condemnation to fear (Romans 8:1). To be absent from our bodies at death means that we’ll be in the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), so we who have believed have no real reason to fear. We can look with eager expectation toward our future home, heaven, and that destination will be indescribably, unspeakably joyful (Revelation 21, 22).
A Closing Prayer
Righteous Father, give us the help to not fear death, with the assurance that we will be with You someday and for all time. Let us live with the end in mind, focusing not on our present condition as much as our eternal destiny with You, and with You there is no more need to fear. We thank You for this blessed assurance, and it is in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen
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