When Fear Knocks at the Door
Have you ever noticed that the older we get, the less we talk about death…and the more we think about it?
Most people never say it out loud.
They simply carry the questions quietly in their hearts.
Recently, a friend told me that one of the gentlemen from our senior Bible study was struggling.
The reason was simple.
He was afraid to die.
“I’ll go see him,” I said.
Over the previous four years, Don and I had developed precious friendships with many of the residents. This dear gentleman had faithfully attended our Bible studies, and we had grown to love him.
He was in his nineties. His health was declining, and like many people his age, he knew he had lived far more years than he likely had ahead of him.
I asked Don if he would go with me.
Our purpose was simple.
We wanted to pray with him.
And if he wanted to talk…
We wanted to listen.
He did.
As we sat together, it didn’t take long before he shared what was weighing so heavily on his heart.
He wasn’t just thinking about dying.
He was afraid to die.
The older I get, the more I realize he wasn’t alone.
Many people carry that same fear.
Some wonder what lies beyond this life.
Others hope they’ve done enough to earn God’s acceptance.
Still others know their failures all too well and quietly wonder whether God could ever receive someone like them.
As we listened, Don gently reminded our friend of God’s promises and the certainty we have because of Jesus Christ: that our hope rested in what Jesus had already accomplished on the cross.
As Don and I drove home that afternoon, I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation.
It reminded me of one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Think about that for a moment.
If someone asked you what God’s throne is called, what would you say?
Hebrews calls it the “Throne of Grace.”
I love that.
The King of the universe doesn’t tell us to stay away until we’ve conquered our fears.
He doesn’t tell us to clean ourselves up before we come.
He simply invites us to come.
And notice what He promises when we arrive.
Mercy.
God withholds the punishment our sins deserve.
Grace.
God gives us what we could never deserve—His forgiveness and heaven.
When fear knocks at the door…
Grace invites us to the throne.
Not a throne of condemnation.
Not a throne where we must prove ourselves worthy.
A Throne of Grace.
As Don and I prepared to leave, I paused at the door.
There was one question I needed to ask.
“Are you at peace now?”
He looked up at me.
There was a quietness in his eyes that hadn’t been there when we arrived.
Then he smiled.
As Don and I walked down the hallway, Jesus’ words came to my mind:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
That is the peace Jesus offers every one of us.
It isn’t the absence of death.
It is the presence of Christ.
It isn’t found in our goodness.
It is found in His grace.
And when fear knocks at your door… you can walk boldly to the Throne of Grace, where mercy is waiting, grace is abundant, and the Prince of Peace meets every fearful heart.
