Through Fear of Death
(Editorial - February 1999)

In Bro. Mark Vincent’s second article on Ecclesiastes, he develops the primary theme of the book -- death. As he notes: "Twentieth century life is spent running away from it pretending that it is not there. Yet death cannot be stopped. It scorns every advance of human achievement. It mocks the creation and accumulation of wealth in which modern society loves to indulge. It ridicules all forms of human status and attainment."

Held in bondage
In Hebrews 2 there is a dramatic phrase summarizing man’s continuing reaction to death, "who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:15). In his Letter to the Hebrews, Bro. John Carter comments on this phrase:

"The fear of death and of possible experiences beyond it, are terrifying things to many people. Superstitions of all kinds have sprung up, and ritual of many forms has been designed in endeavors to allay the fear. False religion thrives on the fear, and the darkened mind of man is soon enslaved to priests of various orders and kind, civilized and uncivilized.

"The Hebrew, more enlightened than the Gentile, had his form of bondage...Greater efforts to keep the law, in a mistaken apprehension of its aim, made it a burden which they were unable to bear."

But we, brethren, are not in bondage to that fear for we have been enlightened by the gospel, and have been freed from fear by association with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, as Bro. John Bilello brings out in his continuing comments on the parables, knowing about the bridegroom is not enough; our knowledge of him must shine forth with the light of the Truth in practical expression -- the love of the brethren.

When we truly walk in the light, we no longer fear the great enemy, but look forward with the assurance expressed in the final words recently penned by one of our Russian brethren.

Please do not sorrow for me overmuch. We will meet again in God’s kingdom. I am soon to become a pile of complex chemicals, but as the sea will give up the dead, so will the earth yield me up too.

I want to thank you all for all you did for me in showing me, just one isolated man, the Truth of God. I remember the correspondence with Duncan (Bro. Duncan Heaster), the placing aside of my Muslim background, and the day Duncan and Igor Sipiagov came to baptize me on a cold winter’s day in a bathroom at the home of another brother. I remember it all; how I escorted them back to the station; how they nearly missed their train, running over the tracks in the snow waving dollars or tickets to the conductor. And I see now the truth of it all, that surely I too will rise again. I will be, by God’s grace, in His kingdom with Jesus and with yourselves.

Please, do not try to attend my funeral. My brothers are coming to collect me and take me to my native Chechnaya, where they want to give me a Muslim funeral. The doctors estimate I have a few more months and my brothers are coming soon to take me down there. Please, do not come. There is a high chance you will be kidnapped or be caught up in the terrible things happening there; you will be targeted as non-Muslims. Do not risk yourselves just to be with my body, the body which will rise again anyway and be with you again. Instead, risk yourselves to preach to yet more people, give more men like me the great hope.

Strangely, I feel no great emotion in this, my last communication with you. They will all say, "It was a release for him," and so it will be for me.

Now, my day is done, I look forward to that eternal day which lies ahead. Thank you, my dear brothers, for all you did for me, for the truth you showed me, for the hope you gave me.

Bro. Eugene had been battling cancer for some time as a result of Chernobyl. He was a frequent contributor to this magazine (The Gospel News) and a bold preacher of the word in Marij-El where he lived in isolation. As he sensed the end was near, he said and wrote some wonderful things. The above was his last will for us his brethren and sisters. His Muslim family took control of the funeral and we were unable to have any representation there in any case. His life, and now supremely his death, make us realize once again the utter truth of it all -- that all our struggles for the furtherance of the Gospel are so ultimately and eternally worthwhile. In Eugene, "I knew a man in Christ." Eugene, Thank you, More than words can say. D.H.

The time is at hand for the return of our Lord. Let us so walk in the light that neither death nor the Lord’s coming is an occasion for fear as we look forward, in his grace, to being with him forever.

Don Styles

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