An old friend recently found me on the internet, which is pretty cool. In our brief conversations, he has told me about his wife’s publishing company which, as he said, publishes some material that might be, for me, a bit ‘out there’. He’s right, but that’s okay.
On the web site, there are some interviews with some of her authors. In one, I was struck by this question and answer, as one might expect that I would be:
Q. What do you think about when you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t sleep?
A. I think about how I can bring under control my fear of death, and my fear of life’s fragility. I go back to sleep without ever finding an answer.
I thought that was a great question, and I must say that I loved the honesty of the answer. Sure, I would like to tell this author about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to persuade him that we need have no fear of death. But I know that only God can supply his answer.
And I also know that there are nights that I awake and cannot sleep. Am I as honest about my fears as he? And would I be honest with the world that my fears are rooted in unbelief? They are.
I am a Christian because God has been gracious to draw me to himself, not because I’ve been so smart or wise or obedient or good. That I need not fear death is not due to any superiority in me. Heavens no. It has to do alone with the mercy of God in my undeserving life.