There was once a dear old Scotch woman who wanted badly to go to the city of Edinburgh, but for years she could not be persuaded to take the railway journey because of her great dread of a tunnel through which she would have to pass. One day circumstances arose which compelled her to go. For a while her fears were great, and her agitation increased as the train drew near the dreaded tunnel. But before the tunnel was actually reached the old woman, worn out with excitement, dropped peacefully off to sleep. When she awoke, she discovered that the tunnel had been passed!
Sometimes even God's people are fearful when looking ahead to the dark shadow of death, but the apprehension is as needless as the old woman's fear of the tunnel. Jesus said: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:2525Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25). The resurrection hope takes the sting out of death; though we sleep, we shall awake in the full sunshine of His presence. "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." Psa. 17:1515As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15).
This is "the blessed hope" of all the people of God, but what about the ungodly? It will not be so with them. To go alone "without God and without hope," into the darkness of death, is only the prelude to spending eternity in "the blackness of darkness forever."
Now, that is not a needless fear! It is the most sensible fear a human being can have, and if you find that fear in your heart, turn at once to the One who came into the world to die on the cross to "deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:1515And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15).