October 24

Spiritual Warfare

Fear of death

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though
he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
John 11:25–26 (NIV)

Most of the time, we walk to our villages. One particular week, I saw
something strange. Each home and village has three paths entering and
exiting. I noticed that these paths had ash spread across them in the
form of a cross. I asked Arterio what it meant.

Arterio said, “The Jur believe there is a demon that rides around on
a lion. At night, he comes into the village and sucks the blood from a
person. In the morning when the family wakes up, that person is dead.
This demon has been sighted, and word has spread. Now everyone is
afraid. So they are putting the ash on their paths to prevent the demon
from killing their family members.”

Hebrews 2:14–15 refers to Jesus: “He himself likewise partook of the same
nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that
is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (RSV).

You may find Arterio’s explanation hard to imagine, but it confirms
what Scripture says about the fear of death. It also highlights the reason
missionaries move to difficult places like the Sudan. They learn a language
and culture in order that they might tell a people group how to be
free from the fear of death through faith in Jesus Christ.
Maybe you know someone who is also afraid to die. Share the good
news that God offers eternal life to all who put their confidence in Jesus.

—John, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa

Father, I know that when believers die, they are immediately in the presence of
the Lord. Thank You for that assurance. Speak through Christian workers in
the Sudan so that many will be released from the bondage of fear. Amen.

Next day