Light Takes The Fear Away


John King


Years ago I took our teen group on a weekend retreat. At midnight, we went to a local cemetery, and I told the group to see who could find the oldest tombstone. They reluctantly followed my request and were glad to leave the graveyard. They said the experience was spooky and uncomfortable at night.


The next morning I repeated the same event. The spookiness was gone, and they actually enjoyed the experience. I asked, “Why the difference between last night and now in the daylight?” The group looked like I had asked the dumbest question in the world. They simply replied, “In the light we can see there is nothing there to be afraid of; in the dark, we couldn’t.” I then replied, “That’s how the light of the Gospel works. It shows us that death is nothing to be afraid of, but, without the Gospel, we see darkness and the fear of death – both physical and spiritual.”


Through the light of the Gospel I can see myself “made alive” after death – like Christ was in His resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Because of this light, like Paul, I can actually say, “O death where is thy victory, O death where is thy sting.” 15:55 (ASV)


The Gospel illuminates me to the fact that the grave is not my eternal destiny, but, rather, my eternal home is a mansion – in my Father’s house in heaven – prepared for me. John 14:2 Without the Gospel I never would have known that. 


Man sees death occur; the body decays, and only bones are left. The dead can tell us nothing of where they are and what is going on in their existence. Man finds himself with many questions and much anxiety.


Only the Gospel answers the questions and removes that anxiety. Jesus made death transparent, and, for those that obey the Gospel, it looks pretty good. -9137 Prunty Rd., Berea, WV 26327.


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