Hebrews 2:14-18

Hebrews 2:14-18 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became to release men from the fear of death. As a perfect man, He also had the temptation of fearing death, living as if the angel of death hovered over the house at all times. But He came to take that fear away by placing his blood over the door portal of the house of each man and woman. He came to free us from this life of fear by protecting us evermore from the eternal death authored by the devil. As in the days of the children of Israel in Egypt, his blood releases the children from Pharaoh's (the devil's) hand. As freed children, we are now on our way to the Promised Land. As the Israelites were freed from their captivity in Egypt, we too have been freed from the bondage of sin and the hands of the enemy.

When we accept Jesus as Savior, we experience the Day of Atonement. God washes away our sins and cleanses us from every work that leads to death. Jesus' work on the cross becomes our path to life forevermore. We are no longer captive to sin and death. Although once held in slavery by their (our) fear of death, when Jesus becomes our life, we are free. The angel of death cannot touch down to our households. We will experience the shadow of death and not the death of the soul. We will not die in Egypt, for we are bound for the Promised Land. John Wooden, a wonderful Christian man and probably the best basketball coach ever, was asked for his secret to a long life (he died when he was 99 years old). "Not being afraid of death," he replied, the answer ever Christian should give concerning his or her life. We abide in God's hands, not in Pharaoh's hands. We live by his breath, not by ours, and his breath is eternal. The Lord has not destined us to stay here; we are moving on to an eternal land. This hope of a better place is our reality. Without this hope of eternal life, we Christians would be most miserable, for we would believe a lie. But those who walk in the light are people of the truth, with resurrection life within us and the testimony of the Holy Spirit in our souls. His still small voice guides us through our days, gives us peace to sleep at night, and encourages us as we arise each morning. We are IN HIM and He is WITHIN US--the reality of Christianity.

Therefore, my brethren, cast away all your fear. Open up your minds to the reality of God within you, our hope of glory. The death angel will never touch down in your life, for you are eternal. God became man, suffered as a man, so He could experience our pain and provide an escape from the grave. He experienced man's captivity to death and the devil's work. By experiencing the life as a man, He made a way to life through his sacrifice at the cross and resurrection from the grave. He became the perfect Lamb of God who takes away sin forever. We are not alone because He came to us as a perfect man, a perfect sacrifice, to appease God's wrath toward sin. Because He is perfect, we are perfect in him. He has substituted his life for ours by paying the price for our sins. He interfered with the consequences of sin by conquering death and bringing his life to each of us. Now it is not our lives we live, but his. Rejoice, because through the sinless Christ, God made us whole, righteous. Yes, the Holy Spirit placed the blood over the portal of every believer's heart. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) Again, I say, rejoice! Amen!