My old fishing buddy, Jim Bronaugh, was a great guy. He loved to laugh and smile and joke. One time after he had recovered from a very serious illness, I was visiting with him. He said, “It was terrible. At first, I felt so bad I was afraid I was going to die. Then, it got worse, and I was afraid I wouldn’t!”

During the lockdown for the corona virus, I saw people who had the disease and then recovered being interviewed on television. A common refrain from those folks was “I thought I was going to die!”

When I was in the fourth grade, I had a very serious case of food poisoning. It was scary. I was afraid I might die. So I did some soul-searching. You may not think a fourth grader would do that kind of thinking, but I did. I wondered what would happen to me if I did die. And I remembered what I had been taught from God’s Word. I had a Savior who paid for my sins and would welcome me into heaven. I knew and believed I had forgiveness and acceptance for Jesus’ sake. I still do.

Psalm 56:3–4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

I trust in the Lord. Fear still comes, especially when I focus on this world and my own power. But when I turn my eyes back to Jesus, when I trust in Him, I know I am safe and secure.

John Newton’s famous hymn “Amazing Grace” has a stanza that may not be well known, but it is powerful.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease,
Amazing grace shall then prevail
In heaven’s joy and peace.

It can be difficult to think about leaving this world, because it is all that we know. Yet our faith in Jesus assures us of being with Him. I enjoy being here on earth, but I know something better is coming.