Judging by the way people are reacting to the spread of the Chinese virus, they don’t want to die. Here in Texas, where relatively few people have been infected, there has been a major run on the stores. People are stocking up on hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, water and toilet tissue. Not sure where toilet tissue fits in, but panic has definitely set it. he latest advice is to avoid crowds, especially if you are older or have health problems. The numbers of deaths are relatively low, but that infected carriers have no symptoms for weeks, causes a fear of the unknown. You don’t know who could be a carrier. By the time infected people show symptoms, they may have infected hundreds or even thousands of people.
Fear has gripped the world and schools are closing and sporting events are canceled or will be played without an audience. Airlines began cancelling flights to affected areas long ago, and with travel bans, more will be cancelled. Tourists are staying home, so that industry is suffering. Cruise ships have been caught in the middle of this storm and bad press from quarantined ships will sink their business. A record fall in the stock market reflects present damage and the anxiety investors feel about the future. Some closures and cancellations are to avoid lawsuits that are sure to come.
Why are people so afraid of death when we already know we are all going to die? People have a way of mentally putting off death. They don’t want to think about the possibility of them or their loved ones dying. Young people can be reckless because they feel invincible, or at least immune from death for now. As people get older, they prepare for their death by preparing a will and buying life insurance, but it doesn’t seem real until death hits closer to home.
Death has been a part of life since the beginning and so has the fear of dying. People fight for their lives, morn the dead and those who sacrifice their lives for others are heralded as heroes. That is the kind of world JESUS came into with His offer of everlasting life. His sacrificial death wasn’t a reaction to the sin of the world; His death was planned from the foundation of the world. We were guilty of sin and somebody had to pay! “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). We had no way to get to GOD until JESUS washed away our sins through the shedding of His precious blood. Isaiah foretold “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces” (Isa 25:8 KJV).
Most of the world didn’t and still doesn’t accept His gift, but it is no less amazing. When we accept His precious gift we can say “O death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory” (1 Cor 15:55 KJV)? Paul went further to say “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21 KJV). The only reason for you to live here on this earth is in obedience to JESUS, that’s not to say life isn’t precious. JESUS said “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life” (John 15:13 KJV) and that is exactly what He did for you! Accept JESUS as your Savior and you don’t have to fear death, in fact you can look forward to it and the benefits that come next!
Wayne Lance (2020)