Christian Living

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Solomon declared, "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
Holy, reverential fear is an apt response of creation for Creator. And this kind of fear belongs to God alone.

But attention is here called to another kind of fear. the controlling, shattering kind of fear that permeates our society. A recent comic strip showed a teacher asking her class this question: What is the leading cause of fear in our society today? The answer from the students: 24 hour news. We laugh, but it may be truer than it is funny. Our world is in such turmoil, what with hatred and wars between people and nations, one natural disaster after another, health and relationship problems, poverty and deprivation, etc., small wonder that fear is widespread.

This kind of fear, however, is a negative emotion producing negative results and is clearly and emphatically spoken against in Scripture. Children of God are reminded that they are strangers and pilgrims just passing through this world and its traumatizing fears. We must look upward and inward and not relate with quivering fear of the circumstances around us. Otherwise, we become unprofitable servants and deserters to the Cause.

"God is my helper; of whom shall I be afraid?"
Psalm 54:4

"If God be for us, who can succeed against us?"
Rom. 8:31

"Fear not, little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

"You will give him perfect peace whose heart is stayed on You." Isaiah 26:3

The "fearful and unbelieving" head up the list of those who will miss heaven. Rev.21:8

We need to remember David's defiant assessment of Goliath: "I have killed both lion and bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." Fear is nowhere here.

"Perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18
The heart that loves God cannot be controlled and stymied by fear.

Satan and his minions are never happier than when God's people are scared into inactivity. And the scary and unsettling events of the world play right into his hands, but we must not allow it. Our faith, our hope and confidence and expectancy are not anchored in this world. So we must disengage from the devil's ploy.

Our faith rests on the indestructible Rock of our salvation, and we need not--dare not--fear what earthly calamity or evil men can do to us. Fear paralyzes productive lives. Once when Jesus and His fearful disciples were on a stormy sea, He asked them, "Why are you so afraid?" (Matt. 8:26) After all, they had the Son of God with them. There was no reason for fear. Jesus attributed their fear to a lack of faith. We also have the Son of God with us. Is lack of faith our problem also?

Let's live every precious minute of our lives with thanksgiving and without fear. We must not give out, give up or give in. Let's stand fearlessly faithful. It's the path of peace as well as obedience. As children of God, we can do no less.

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