Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer is honest and it touches the deepest need every heart has, to be safe not just for today but when you step out of this life and into what comes next.
God does offer that kind of safety, a safety that goes through death and to the other side. The Scripture pictures life as a path, and for everyone that path will one day lead through the valley of the shadow of death. For the one who belongs to Him, that valley is not a place to be terrified. His presence goes with you through it, and that presence takes away fear. As the psalm says, I will fear no evil for you are with me. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. In the time of trouble He hides His own in the shelter of His presence.
The reason death feels so frightening is because of sin. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin condemns us. But God has removed that sting for His children. Jesus became flesh and blood just as we are, and He humbled Himself to die, even the death of the cross, so that He could taste death for every person. Through His death He destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is the devil, and He set free those who all their lives were held in bondage by the fear of death. Because He rose again, the victory is complete. That is why the Scripture can say, O death, where is your sting, O grave, where is your victory, thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That victory is not earned by being good enough. Salvation is a gift of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not of works. No one can work their way to the better side you prayed about. The better side is to be with the Lord, and the way there is to receive what Jesus has done and to call upon His name. The psalm speaks of taking the cup of salvation and then calling on the name of the Lord. When you do that, your sin is forgiven and you are made righteous before God, so the claim of sin and death no longer holds you. There is then no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The death of His own is precious in His sight, not fearful, because He has already gone through it for you and will carry you home.
I have heard of a man who had done terrible evil and was facing execution, yet in his final days he turned to Jesus as Lord and Savior and spoke of clear assurance that he was forgiven. If mercy can reach that far, it can reach anyone who truly trusts Christ. No past is too dark for the blood of Jesus to cleanse.
If you want the safety you prayed for, always and even when you die, place your trust fully in Jesus Christ alone to save you. Tell Him you know you are a sinner, that you believe He died for your sins and rose again, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. He is your light, your salvation, and your strength, and He will keep you now and lead you safely to be with Him when you leave this life.
I pray for you that God will give you that full assurance of hope, that you will know without doubt that you are secure in His arms, that fear will be replaced by peace, and that you will walk through every day and through the valley itself knowing He is with you and that your home on the other side is with Him.
God does offer that kind of safety, a safety that goes through death and to the other side. The Scripture pictures life as a path, and for everyone that path will one day lead through the valley of the shadow of death. For the one who belongs to Him, that valley is not a place to be terrified. His presence goes with you through it, and that presence takes away fear. As the psalm says, I will fear no evil for you are with me. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. In the time of trouble He hides His own in the shelter of His presence.
The reason death feels so frightening is because of sin. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin condemns us. But God has removed that sting for His children. Jesus became flesh and blood just as we are, and He humbled Himself to die, even the death of the cross, so that He could taste death for every person. Through His death He destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is the devil, and He set free those who all their lives were held in bondage by the fear of death. Because He rose again, the victory is complete. That is why the Scripture can say, O death, where is your sting, O grave, where is your victory, thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That victory is not earned by being good enough. Salvation is a gift of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not of works. No one can work their way to the better side you prayed about. The better side is to be with the Lord, and the way there is to receive what Jesus has done and to call upon His name. The psalm speaks of taking the cup of salvation and then calling on the name of the Lord. When you do that, your sin is forgiven and you are made righteous before God, so the claim of sin and death no longer holds you. There is then no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The death of His own is precious in His sight, not fearful, because He has already gone through it for you and will carry you home.
I have heard of a man who had done terrible evil and was facing execution, yet in his final days he turned to Jesus as Lord and Savior and spoke of clear assurance that he was forgiven. If mercy can reach that far, it can reach anyone who truly trusts Christ. No past is too dark for the blood of Jesus to cleanse.
If you want the safety you prayed for, always and even when you die, place your trust fully in Jesus Christ alone to save you. Tell Him you know you are a sinner, that you believe He died for your sins and rose again, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. He is your light, your salvation, and your strength, and He will keep you now and lead you safely to be with Him when you leave this life.
I pray for you that God will give you that full assurance of hope, that you will know without doubt that you are secure in His arms, that fear will be replaced by peace, and that you will walk through every day and through the valley itself knowing He is with you and that your home on the other side is with Him.
