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The Fear
of Death 2-5-06
We read in The Gospel
According to John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, Martha, “I am the
resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will never die. Do
you believe this?”
Mr. Harold Sala wrote in
his book Profiles in Faith, about men and women who have changed the
world. Dr. Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, described
it as a wonderful collection of inspiring stories about people who are
making a difference. Mr. J.C. Penney is one of the people of whom Mr. Sala wrote.
Mr. James Cash Penny was born
in Hamilton, Mo. in 1875 and he established the J.C. Penney
Company. The stores were first called the Golden Rule stores. After his
retirement in 1946, he established the James C. Penney Foundation to aid
religious, scientific, and educational projects. He wrote an
autobiography, “Fifty Years With The Golden Rule.” When the U.S. Stock
market crashed in 1929, J.C. Penney had made some unwise personal
commitments. He became so worried that he could not sleep. Night after
night, Penney tossed and turned and became obsessed with fear of death.
Out of this nervous condition, he developed a disease known as shingles.
He was hospitalized and given sedation to relieve the intense pain. A
combination of circumstances, physical and mental, led him to believe he
would not live until morning. He wrote farewell letters to his wife and
son.
Somehow, Penney lived through
the night. The next morning he heard a group of people singing in the
hospital chapel “God will take care of you.” The words of the song
drifted down the halls. He listened to the words intently. A reading of
a Scripture passage and prayer followed. Then something happened. In
Penney’s own words: “I can’t explain it. I can only call it a miracle. I
felt as if I had been instantly lifted out of the darkness of a dungeon
into warm, brilliant sunlight. I felt as if I had been transported from
hell to paradise. I felt the power of God as I had never felt it
before...From that day to this, my life has been free from worry.”
Penney’s fear of death was suddenly cut down to size. It ceased to haunt
him. Why? Neither Penney nor anyone else could explain it by reason; yet
countless millions have discovered that when they committed their lives
to Christ, they found the reality of a supernatural peace that casts the
fear of death down to proper size.
Christian faith
is unique in its assertion that the grave is not the end but merely the
beginning of an eternal tomorrow. How beautiful are the words of Christ:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believes in me will never
die” John 11:25-26.
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