The stories are myriad. An...
Illustration
The stories are myriad. An individual has a near--death experience. The consciousness hastens, as it were, down a long, bright tunnel toward a beckoning warm, bright something that proves irresistible. But the person is revived and returns to "normal" life. Death is averted. What does the near--deceased have to say about the experience? "Incredible. Indescribable. I had no idea." But more significantly, what does the moment do to the individual‚--ôs feelings about facing death? All fear evaporates. Comments have been made like these: "I‚--ôll never shirk from dying again." "I feel no terror about dying." "It will be so wonderful." It is as though the fear of the unknown has been taken from such folk. The fear that ordinarily attends our contemplating death seems chiefly tied to the unknown aspects of that inevitable future event. Once the hiddenness of it begins to disappear, our fear begins to melt. The disciples felt terror when they did not recognize the apparition on the lake. Once they had recognized the Lord, their terror evaporated and was replaced with amazement. The apostle Paul is right, literally, when he reminds us that we are not called into fear. In Christ there is no need for it.--Sherer
