God does not want any of us who are in Christ to suffer the bondage that fear of death brings upon us. Jesus has already removed death’s sting and demonstrated that the grave has no lasting victory. He has destroyed the one who for so long tormented man with threats about death, Satan himself. The writer to the Hebrews declares:  

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).  

 

The Apostle Paul not only had no fear of death; he actually anticipated it. His only conflict was between his desire to finish the work he knew was needed here for the Church, and his desire to enjoy God’s unveiled presence after death. Why could Paul face death with such confidence? He knew something. It was real to him that Jesus Christ had destroyed all the terror in death. Paul triumphantly declared:  

 

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).  

 

The sting of death can be removed from surviving loved ones when they come to realize that the departed one is better off now than when on Earth. We do not sorrow as those who have no hope. We can experience the normal process of grief which comes to us because we have lost someone precious to us. But we have the hope of eternal reunion. We shall one day go to the one we lost, if we know the same Lord.