- I Shall Not Want
- Green Pastures and Still Waters
- Restoration and Guidance: Receiving the Promise
- Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
- Eating a Meal in the Presence of Your Enemies
One night several years ago, as part of my role as associate pastor, I traveled to a neighboring town to a funeral home. One of our church members had died, and I was there to greet the family. There was a long line winding from the front door to the casket, and the family was receiving friends just past the casket. After some time in line, I realized that I didn’t recognize a single person in the entire room. I was a little disappointed that there weren’t more people from our church in attendance, but I was glad the deceased had so many friends.
When the couple in front of me got to the casket, the gentleman looked at me and said, “Doesn’t he look good?” That’s when I looked in the casket. I had never seen the deceased before in my life. I was there on the wrong night! Then the wife of the person in front of me asked, “How did you know him?” I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I just blurted out, “Known him for a long, long time.” As soon as they turned to speak to the family, I put my head down, turned on my heels, and, trying my best to go unnoticed, walked right out of that room to my car and drove away.
Even though we’ve all been to a funeral home, hopefully on the right day, death is something that we don’t like to talk about or even think about. But with the death rate for human beings still hovering around 100%, there’s no way we can avoid it. God knows that, so instead of letting it go unmentioned, he speaks about death throughout the Bible.
We’re still looking at Psalm 23, and now we come to verse 4. If you pay close attention when reading this Psalm, you’ll notice that David gets so excited in this verse that he changes from speaking in the third person (“he”) to speaking in the second person (“you”). He suddenly stops talking about God and starts talking to God. There’s a reason for his excitement.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
David knew that there were times when a shepherd had to lead his sheep through some valleys where the sun cast deep shadows, and in those dark shadows predators would sometimes lurk. It was a dangerous time for the sheep.
But no matter what might be hiding in the shadows, including death, the sheep had no fear — because the shepherd was with them. The rod and the staff were tools the shepherd used to protect the sheep, so they were comforted by both the shepherd’s presence and by his ability to protect them from harm.
David is saying to God, “I know that I’m going to have to face death, just like the sheep I used to shepherd. But God, I also know you will be with me every step of the way, so I will not be afraid.” The world can be a scary place. There will always be shadows, there will always be death. But as believers, we can follow our Shepherd anywhere and have no fear. Why? Because he is always there and he’s always watching out for us. We have his presence and protection. We are never in a situation that he is not aware of, we are never in a situation in which he is not in complete control, and we are never alone. He says that he will never leave us.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Jesus promises to be with us always. That means that he’ll be with us even when we face death.
One day a very good friend of Jesus died. When Jesus arrived at his friend’s village, he spoke with the sister of his friend. The sister, Martha, looked at Jesus with great sadness yet also with strong faith, and said, “Lord, if you’d just been here, my brother wouldn’t have died, you could have healed him.” Jesus knew that he was about to do something these people had never seen before. He was going to raise the brother, Lazarus, from the dead! Knowing this, Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha, thinking that Jesus was talking about that day in the future when all of the dead will be resurrected, simply said, “Yeah, I know he will, when everyone else rises in the end times.”
But that wasn’t what Jesus was talking about, so he looked at Martha and spoke some of the most powerful words this world has ever heard.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
Jesus is talking about way more than what he’s about to do for Lazarus. He’s saying, “Martha, I know your brother is dead, and I know the pain you’re feeling. But you need to understand that everyone who believes in me, even though they’ll all die physically one day, they won’t die. For a believer, Martha, death is just leaving this worn-out shell of a body designed for temporary life on this planet. Death here means spending the rest of eternity with me. With me, Martha! Believers may die physically, but they really don’t die. Martha, I’m about to do something amazing. I’m going to do a resurrection, but I don’t just do resurrections, Martha, I am the resurrection. I am life. And because I am who I am, death doesn’t have the final answer here. Death doesn’t win this battle. I’m going to beat death to a pulp, and no one who follows me will ever have to worry about death again!”
We don’t have to be afraid of death! There’s no need to be because we don’t actually die. The moment we leave this life, we enter the arms of Jesus. We leave these mortal bodies behind and immediately find ourselves in a giant bear hug, welcomed by Jesus to our true home. So when you face danger, ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” For the believer, the worst thing that can happen is actually the best thing that can happen – you’ll be with your Savior! Death isn’t the end for us. It’s the beginning of life with Jesus!
That’s what the gospel is all about. That’s the good news that Christians have for all the world. If you accept Christ, then you will die a physical death, but you won’t truly die. You’ll live forever with Jesus.
One day I’m going to leave this shell. I’m not in a big hurry for that to happen, but it’s going to happen one day. And when it does, it’s going to be the greatest thing that I’ve ever experienced! It’s going to be better than the 2013 Iron Bowl! It’s going to be better than the day I married the love of my life. It’s even going to be better than the births of my three children. I’m going to see my grandparents, my friends, my relatives, people I love so much. I’m going to be in a place where there is no more worry, no more pain, no more sickness, no more regret, no more heartache, no more tears.
And then I’m going to see Jesus! And I think that I’m just going to fall at his feet and worship him. Then he’s going to take my hands and lift me up and give me that big bear hug. He’s going to look me in the eyes and say, “Welcome home, son. You’re finally here!”
If you’re a believer, that’s what’s going to happen to you as well. So when you’re overwhelmed by fear, especially the fear of death, or even when you’re facing disappointment or loneliness or pain, stop what you’re doing and what you’re thinking and feel God’s presence. The one who conquered death is right there with you. Let his presence calm you and comfort you. He loves doing that.
David said that no matter where God led him he would not be afraid, because he knew that God was with him. He’s with you, too. Read it one more time:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)