The Fear of Death

May a good Christian fear death? I answer, 'No,’ so far as a Christian is led with the Spirit of God and is truly spiritual; for the Spirit carries us upward. But as far as we are earthly and carnal, and biased downward to things below, we are loath to depart here. In some cases, God's children are afraid to die, because their accounts are not ready. Though they love Christ, and are in a good way, yet notwithstanding, because they have not prepared themselves by care, they say, 'Oh stay away awhile that I may recover my strength, before I go hence and be no more seen' (Psa. 39:13). But as far as we are guided by the Spirit of God sanctifying us, so far the thoughts of death ought not to be terrible to us. Beloved, there is none but a Christian that can desire death; because it is the end of all comfort here, it is the end of all callings and employments, of all sweetness in this world. If another man who is not a Christian, desires heaven, he desires it not to be with Christ as Christ; he desires it under some notion suitable to his corruption. Heaven is no place for such. None but a child of God can desire that; for if we consider heaven, and to be with Christ, to be perfect holiness, can he desire it that hates holiness here? Can he desire the communion of saints in heaven, yet hate Christian fellowship now? Can he desire to be free from sin, who engulfs himself continually in sin? He cannot, and therefore as long as he is under the dominion of any lust he may desire heaven indeed, but it is only so far as he may have his lusts there, his pleasures, honours, and riches there too. If he may have heaven with that, he is contented; but alas, heaven must not be so desired. Paul did otherwise; he desired to depart, to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). Paul desired it as the perfection of the image of God, under the notion of holiness and freedom from sin.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Christ is Best, pp. 15-18
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