There are many types of slavery but all slavery is oppressive and filled with fear. Where there is slavery, there is lack of freedom. An oppressive fear of death is apparent for those without hope. Fear of death is enslavement. For those who follow Christ, their hope is in Him Who is the living Savior. No matter our circumstances, no matter the horrors in the process of dying, God is still God. He never changes. As a follower of Christ, hope is in the eternal life of being in the very presence of the Almighty, Unchanging God of the Bible after physical death.
How can you and I know that this is reality? The author of Hebrews said of Christ Jesus:
(NASB) Hebrews 2:14-15 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

Naomi and her two sons had to face the death of their husband and father:
(NASB) Ruth 1:3 “Then Elimelech, Naomi”™s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.”
Grief and loneliness are a part of the death of a spouse and father (or mother). Only those who have walked in that valley really understand that type of grief. It is courageous to be involved with life, to go on day by day”¦do you know a widow or widower? Who do you know who has lost a parent?
Pray for them to be courageous and to trust, leaning on the living God of the Bible throughout their day.

Followers of Christ can be assured of the living Presence of God after death. Job knew this fact:
(NIV) Job 19:25-26 “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him with my own eyes ““ I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
***Do you have this kind of faith, the faith that Job expressed? Do you also yearn to be in the presence of God after you die?
Faith is a choice and that choice is in this life. Christ Jesus died and rose from the grave. We too will die and for those who have received Jesus”™ forgiveness and His buying us back from death, sin, and Satan ““ we will be able to say with Job “I know that my Redeemer lives”¦I myself will see him with my own eyes.”
If you doubt this, ask God to show you His truth. If you say, “˜I don”™t believe in religion”™, that is good!
Belief and faith are to be in a personal relationship with God. We are to worship Him and not the rituals of religion.

(NASB) 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”

For the followers of Christ, we have the victory already secured, because Christ Jesus has come and is coming again. And all God”™s people say “˜Alleluia, Amen!”™