Fear of Death and of Life

Scripture: When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” Revelation 6:5-6

Observation: John watches as the first four seals of the great scroll are opened, releasing the "four horsemen." The first (white), second (red), and fourth (pale) all have to do with violence and death ... conquering by war, killing by violence, and death by natural causes, respectively. However, the third (black) is different. He comes not with signs of violence, but with a balancing scale. Likewise, we are not told what his 'authority' is, but rather John hears guidance and instructions about food prices and produce.

These images are often referred to as the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" and it is assumed they are released in the end-times to bring pain on the world. If so, then we also see a glimpse of what 'pain' looks like in the end times. There are violent dictators bringing pain and suffering on weaker people (white horse). There are acts of violence and hate perpetrated by individuals and people groups (red horse). There are disasters and plagues causing widespread death and panic (pale horse). And there is ... economic hardship and uncertainty that upends personal lives (black horse).

This does indeed feel like the meaning of the black horse. The others are clearly about violence and death, but the black horse is about turmoil in daily lives of the living. All of these produce fear, as people are afraid of dying whether it be by war or random violence or disease. However, the black horse brings fear in a different way, through struggle and strife and confusion and difficulty and worries about survival. The black horse speaks to the part of everyone's life that produces a different fear, which is the fear that even before we face the fear of death, we experience a life of hardship and struggle, one where we can't afford what we need, let alone the niceties we want.

Application: I have resisted looking up commentary on this topic because I'm sure there are thousands of different interpretations of the horsemen, and everyone reads them into their current worldview. But wow, this all sounds like it's taken straight out of today's (sensationalist and fear mongering) news reports. Wars and tyrants ... shootings and assassinations ... pandemics and disasters ... and now job losses and inflation.

Yet here is the point: All of these are fears for people who don't have faith. While I don't want to die, I don't fear it. While I want to have provision and even blessing, I trust in the Lord for my daily bread. However, if you're a person who thinks the purpose of existence is to live the best life you can, and then you'll just cease to exist, ALL if this sounds fearful.

The horsemen tell me that, while we all know that people are afraid of the coming of death in all its forms, and especially if it is random and out of our control, the other prominent fear in everyone's hearts is about economic struggle. That is why many perceive the rich as 'evil' - because they assume they have avoided such base fear - and why many will commit evil and compromise their values to even just stabilize their economic situation. It is also why Jesus spoke of money often and indicated it is an indicator of your heart.

As Christians, we surrender our fear of death because of faith in eternal life. We must also surrender our fear of financial hardship because of faith in the Lord's love and provision.

Prayer: Lord, may I acknowledge and celebrate your provision every day, regardless of the form that takes. I glorify you, Lord, for your love surrounds me, and that is truly all I desire in life. Amen.