Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV
Death. It seems so final. It is a one-way door that all of us will eventually walk through. But few seem interested in doing it any sooner than necessary. Humanity, in general, desperately clings to life, fearing to go through that door. No matter how hard life is, it seems preferable to death and the great unknown that lies beyond it.
The author of Hebrews attributes that fear of death to the devil. The fear of death is a power he holds over us, making us cling to life in this world where he holds sway. But Jesus, in his death and resurrection, has broken that power and freed us from slavery to the fear of death. As believers, our great hope is that death is but the gateway to a much greater life than we can experience here.
Freedom and Boldness
I do not know what is on the other side of that door. But I do know who is waiting for me there. And that gives me freedom and boldness in this life as I look forward to meeting him there. Freedom to follow him wherever he leads. And boldness to proclaim him as my Lord.
