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No Fear in Death: The Hope That Only Jesus Gives

Published on April 23, 2025April 23, 2025 by Editor

For many—especially in later years—death becomes a more pressing and personal thought. As the pace of life slows down, and we watch friends and loved ones pass on, it’s not uncommon for quiet fears to settle in: What will happen when I die? Will I suffer? Is there anything beyond this life?

For some, these questions are pushed aside with busyness or distraction. But for others—especially those who are older, unwell, or alone—the fear of death can feel overwhelming. Perhaps it’s the fear of pain, or of the unknown. For some, it’s the worry that they haven’t lived a “good enough” life. For others, it’s the painful reality of not knowing what comes next.

And yet, this article comes to you with a message of peace, hope, and truth. You don’t have to face death with fear. You don’t have to carry this burden in silence. There is One who has gone ahead of you—and who has already defeated death on your behalf.

His name is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Conquered the Grave

Death is real. But so is the resurrection.

The Bible tells us that death entered the world through sin, but that Jesus entered the world to defeat both. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again from the dead—conquering death once and for all.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.” — John 11:25

This isn’t just a comforting idea—it’s a proven reality, witnessed by hundreds of people in Jesus’ day and preserved through centuries of transformed lives. The resurrection means that death is not the end for those who trust in Jesus. It is a doorway into eternal life with God.

For the Christian: Death Has Lost Its Sting

If you already believe in Jesus, you don’t need to fear what comes next.

“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.” — 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57

For the believer, death is not a punishment—it is a passage into everlasting peace, rest, and joy in the presence of God.

The fear of death begins to melt when you realize that your eternity is secure in the hands of a loving Savior. He promises never to leave you, even in your final moments. And when your time comes, He will walk with you through the valley of the shadow of death—and bring you safely home.

But What If You’re Not Sure Where You Stand With God?

Perhaps you’re not certain whether you’re ready. You may have grown up going to church, or maybe you’ve lived without much thought of God. Maybe you’ve made mistakes, or feel you’ve drifted too far. Or perhaps you’ve just never known for sure what to believe.

You don’t have to stay in that uncertainty. You don’t have to live with fear. There is a way to be sure, and His name is Jesus.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23

The Call to Repent: A Turning Point

The Bible says clearly that we have all sinned. None of us can earn heaven by being “good enough.” But the good news is: God offers forgiveness—not because we deserve it, but because He loves us.

To receive this gift of eternal life, Jesus calls us to repent. That means to turn away from sin—our old life—and turn toward God.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” — Acts 3:19

Repentance is a change of heart. It means admitting our need for God’s mercy, asking His forgiveness, and choosing to follow Him. It’s not just about feeling sorry—it’s about real surrender.

Forgive Others as God Has Forgiven You

Jesus also teaches us to forgive others. Many people carry the heavy weight of bitterness, pain, and broken relationships. But forgiveness brings freedom—not just for those we forgive, but for our own hearts.

“If you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” — Matthew 6:14

When you let go of past hurts, you open your heart to healing—and to God’s peace.

Trust in Jesus and Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit

When you turn from sin and trust in Jesus, God not only forgives you—He comes to live within you by His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter, Guide, and Helper. He gives you strength, assurance, and a deep inner peace, even in your final years or moments.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 2:38

This is the new life Jesus offers. A life of peace, purpose, and eternal hope.

A Simple Prayer to Begin Your New Life

If you’re ready to receive Jesus today, you can begin with a sincere prayer like this:

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I turn away from my sin and choose to follow You. I believe You died for me and rose again. Please come into my life, forgive me, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to live for You and forgive others as You have forgiven me. I give You my heart. Thank You for the gift of eternal life. Amen.

You’re Not Alone — Help Is Available

Whether you’re young or old, healthy or ill, it’s never too late to turn to God. Today can be the beginning of your new life. You can face the future with peace, not fear. With confidence, not confusion.

If You’ve Decided to Follow Jesus—or Want to Know More

If you’ve recently made a decision to follow Jesus Christ, or you’re exploring what it means to know Him, you don’t have to walk this journey alone. There are caring people and resources available to support and encourage you.

Helpful Support for Those Seeking Hope and Peace in Christ

If you are looking for trustworthy Christian support as you face questions about life, death, grief, or growing older, these organisations in the UK and USA offer care, prayer, and gospel-centered resources—all firmly grounded in the truth of God’s Word:

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Pilgrims’ Friend Society

Caring for older people with dignity and Christian compassion, offering homes, support, and encouragement focused on eternal hope in Jesus Christ.

Website: www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk

Phone: 0300 303 1403

Faith in Later Life

Helping churches and communities support older people with biblical resources, encouragement, and the good news of Jesus.

Website: www.faithinlaterlife.org

Phone: 020 4571 0770

Care for the Family – Bereavement Support

Providing Christian-based help for those facing grief, loneliness, or loss, with a heart of compassion and biblical comfort.

Website: www.careforthefamily.org.uk

Phone: 029 2081 0800

United States 🇺🇸

Peace With God – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Offering 24/7 gospel help, live chat, and biblical resources to explore faith and receive personal prayer and encouragement.

Website: www.peacewithgod.net

Grief-Share

A Christ-centered support ministry helping people through grief using Scripture, prayer, and small group support.

Website: www.griefshare.org

Phone: 1-800-395-5755

Focus on the Family – Counseling & Care

Offering biblical articles, prayer, and help through trained Christian counselors for those dealing with fear, grief, or family challenges.

Website: www.focusonthefamily.com

Phone: 1-800-A-FAMILY (1-800-232-6459)

You are not alone.

There is real peace, comfort, and assurance in Jesus Christ—for this life and for eternity. Whether you’re seeking answers, prayer, or simply someone to talk to, these ministries are here to help you walk with Christ—without fear.

What next?

7 Things To Do After Getting Saved

7-things-to-do-after-getting-saved-copy-copy.pdf

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*** Photo by Josh Sorenson at Pexels

7 Ways Pride Grows in Our Hearts

Published on June 5, 2024July 15, 2024 by Editor

In his excellent book, Humility, Andrew Murray states that “pride is the beginning of every sin.” The puritan Thomas Watson said of pride, “It is a spiritual drunkenness; it flies up like wine into the brain and intoxicates it. It is idolatry; a proud man is a self-worshiper.” The Bible states, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Pray that God will place the mi

Pride is universal—something we all deal with, ancient as Adam and relevant as the morning news. Yet we don’t always see it, for it grows like weeds around our lives.

Oh, we see it in the obvious ways, but we can be blind to its deceptive, subversive presence in our hearts. We know the disease, but we don’t recognize the symptoms. And that’s why we need the insight of our Great Physician to reveal its symptoms and release us from its grip.

Here are seven symptoms of pride I’ve been seeing in God’s Word as the Spirit works in my own life.

1. Fear

Pride is at the root of fear and anxiety when we refuse to humbly rest in God’s sovereign care. Fear simultaneously reveals our lack of trust and our poisonous self-reliance. We fear because we don’t have faith in the Lord, are enormously preoccupied with ourselves, and lack self-control.

When Peter stepped out on the stormy sea to come to Jesus, he was walking in humble faith. But when his gaze shifted to his circumstances and to self-preservation, he trusted in himself, became afraid, and began to sink. Jesus saved him while admonishing him: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31).

2. Entitlement

Self-sacrifice stems from a humble heart. Entitlement is rooted in a prideful heart.

The core of the gospel is that we are not entitled to anything except just punishment for our sins (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). Yet we deceive ourselves into thinking we’re better than we are, and deserve better than we have. We think we deserve God’s mercy. We think we deserve people’s praise. We think we deserve love, success, comfort, accolades. We certainly don’t think we deserve suffering, heartbreak, or discipline.

But when we experience these things, we grow bitter, frustrated, and disturbed because we believe we’re entitled to more. We forget that apart from Jesus we are rebels who deserve only condemnation.

The disciples regularly wrestled with entitlement. On one occasion, they were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus’s response was a rebuke: “Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves” (Luke 22:26).

3. Ingratitude

Our proud hearts say that we’re good, that we should get what we want, and if we don’t, that we’re justified in our ingratitude. If we’re somehow uncomfortable or inconvenienced, we can complain. It’s our right. Humility, meanwhile, recognizes that God is good and gives us what we need, so we have no reason to be ungrateful. We lack nothing (Deut. 2:7; Ps. 34:9).

The Israelites grumbled in the wilderness, though God fed, clothed, and led them through it (Ex. 16:2; Deut. 8:2). Their stubborn hearts rejected God’s daily mercies out of self-idolization. But God’s Word rebukes our whining: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent” (Phil. 2:14–15).

4. People-Pleasing

Pride is self-worship and self-preservation at all costs—and people-pleasing is the direct result. Some think people-pleasing is a positive trait because they’re so clearly concerned with serving others. But that’s nothing more than a sneaky sheepskin we put over a wolfish habit. People-pleasing is all about self-satisfaction—fearing man more than God—and seeking the fleeting happiness that comes from man’s approval.

The apostle Paul knew human approval was a pointless and prideful pursuit. Thus he could say, “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10).

5. Prayerlessness

Pride deceives us into thinking we can “do life” on our own—we’re capable, independent, unstoppable, self-reliant. We think that we don’t need God every hour, that we don’t need his help, grace, mercy, courage, and hope. So, surely, we don’t need to pray.

But a humble heart submits itself to God in prayer because it knows it can do nothing without him.

When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah’s response was not to go to God in prayer. Instead, he fled, his heart furiously and arrogantly silent (Jonah 1:3). Only when God humbled him in the fish’s belly did Jonah finally cry out in prayer (2:1).

6. Hypocrisy

When you’re proud, you elevate your status, forgetting the mercy God has shown you. You think you’re better than everyone else, so you easily find fault with others. Pride produces a hypocritical spirit.

The Pharisees’ hypocritical pride blinded them both to their sin and to God’s mercy—which made them cold-hearted and cruel toward others. Jesus had harsh words for them:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. (Matt. 23:27)

7. Rebellion

Rebellion against God manifests itself in resistance to God’s Word and God-ordained spiritual leaders. It’s the reflex of a prideful heart. It also shows itself in a lack of submission—wives to husbands, children to parents, employees to bosses, citizens to government. Rebellion says, I know better than you, God, when I don’t.

Even though Adam and Eve had all they needed for life and joy, they pridefully rebelled against God’s good decree, thinking they knew better than him. And this ancient rebellion brought untold pain, suffering, and death—for them and us.

Humbled for Us

Yet there is hope for the proud heart in the incarnation of humility, Jesus Christ. Immanuel—God with us—condescended to live among us, die for us, and raise us to new life. He never had a shred of sinful pride—no fear, no entitlement, no ingratitude, no people-pleasing, no prayerlessness, no hypocrisy, no rebellion (Phil. 2:4–6).

The God-man emptied himself of all he deserved to save us from all we deserve. He who was entitled to the highest honor forfeited it for our eternal good.

Because of his humility, we can be forgiven of our pride. That’s both the sting and the joy of the gospel. It deals with our pride by destroying it, reminding us that life is not about us, and that we deserve only the wrath of God. Jesus also deals with our pride by taking the just punishment for it on himself, that we might be renewed in the image of our Creator (Col. 3:10) and made humble like our Savior.

Being humbled is not smooth or painless, but it’s the daily rescue we need. Hallelujah to the Redeemer we have.