310. Delivered from Bondage to Death
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
God promises to deliver us from Sin, Death, and the Devil; we pray: “Deliver us from evil.” The great evil that holds us in bondage our whole life long is Fear of Death. The death that is coming in our future has a way of reaching back into our present and keeping us as slaves. Death takes away the full enjoyment of life; and finally, death ends life altogether, except that death has been conquered by the resurrection of Christ, and now death has become the gateway to life that never ends.
Not only have we been delivered from death as a final end, but we have also been delivered from bondage to death. Death is not a cruel master for we are free. “Yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Death cannot lord it over me and threaten me legitimately. Death has no claim.
But, even more important for daily life, is the promise of deliverance from fear of death. Fear of death is the basic ground of all fears and worries. Pain, sickness and injury are all little bits of death that erupt in regular life. Fear of loss of health is a piece of the fear of death. Fear of loss of money and ability to control life is also a biggie. The fears of broken and bitter relationships among family and friends also intrude on the full life. Worry and anxiety over many things can become all consuming; it consumes life. When we turn to God in trust He promises to deliver us from these “little deaths.” The fear of death and all its little cares and irritations will keep us in bondage until we avail ourselves of the promised deliverance. Trust in Jesus turns into answered prayer that delivers from bondage to death. The Lord commanded us to pray and promised to hear, so we respond in prayer ”that our heavenly Father would save us from every evil to body and soul, and at our last hour would mercifully take us from the troubles of this world to himself in heaven.” (Luther).
Jesus may not always heal us from physical or mental illness miraculously (though He may), but He does promise to deliver us from the evil of it. We can count on this promise because “Jesus Christ is risen today.”