Each day brings a new reason to be fearful, full of worry and anxiety. North Korea firing missiles over Japan, raging wild fires in the Midwest, floods, terrorist attacks in London, hurricanes in Texas and Florida, personal data breaches for 143 million Americans…these are the worries of TODAY. You’ve probably forgotten about the troubles 6 months ago and are becoming desensitized to what could happen tomorrow. You have a choice to be fearful or not, but that choice is not predicated on your ability to discern what will impact you. The choice to be fearful depends on where your protection comes from and IF you have protection. The first step is to understand what real fear is and the difference between being scared versus being in awe and respectful of what harm can come to you.
Christians cling to the scriptures and the belief in the authority of Christ. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” Matthew 28:18. So, if Jesus is in charge and control, should you worry about anything? Maybe it depends on if you have the coverage and protection Christ offers. A healthy fear of God is all you really need. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us, “The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge…” The fear of God is more about awe and reverence that results in humility and obedience. It begs the question, “What is fear and what do you fear? Do you fear God?”
Modern Christians have been flooded with the good news of God’s love, mercy and grace but has it come at the expense of forgetting God’s wrath and anger? Some of us grew up with hell-fire and brimstone, but most people born after the 60’s and 70’s have gotten a heavy dose of ‘God is love’. Yes, God IS love and He IS ‘slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness’. But, He is not a one dimensional God to be mocked and taken for granted. Ask Ananias or Sapphira. They tested the Holy Spirit with their lies and were immediately struck dead. No opportunity for repentance and forgiveness, they stood accused and were found guilty. The husband and wife flat out dropped dead immediately. Our God is to be feared.
Read the story in Acts 5:1-11. A young Christian couple who were founding members of the first church experienced God’s judgement and wrath that Christ had come to save us from. Folks, this was something to instill worry and anxiety. Believers and non-believers recognized what had gone down. “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” Acts 5:11. So, what’s up with that? Yes, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus, but the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). If we presume security and impunity in our sins, we treat God as if He were one of us and lie to Him. People tell so many lies these days everyone is becoming desensitized to lying and can’t differentiate between the truth and a lie. It’s similar to being desensitized to the events going on in the world today, but far more dangerous than a bomb or a hurricane.
Satan is the father of lies. Christ reminded us, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:5. So, how do YOU lie to God? Ananias and Sapphira did it in their hearts and with their money. Money is an easy place to lie to God. “I put You before my money Lord…I put You first in my finances…I manage and invest my money in ways that will bring you more glory than me or my family.” Make sure you only lie to yourself and not the Holy Spirit.
What are some other lies we tell God? “I seek you and your Kingdom before my job and my family…I submit to Your will for my life, even if it means material changes that I don’t want or suffering and hardships for me and my family.” The list can go on and on. The rich young ruler was so unaware of the lies in his heart when he confronted Christ. He lied about genuinely loving and pursuing God more than his stuff. Maybe some fellowship with believers who had the discerning spirit God gave Peter would have helped. When we follow our own wisdom and understanding and not the leading of the Holy Spirit, the risk runs higher we will need a lie to explain our acts of disobedience.
So where and how do we land this plane? This is not an easy subject and one that requires MUCH more discussion and analysis than a quick blog can do. The world is in overdrive whipping up fear. Our response can be giving into the fear or shutting ourselves out from it. Neither is smart and can lead to turning away from a healthy fear of who and what we should be fearful of. Reverence and humility before a God that rewards obedience is critical. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, but the Holy Spirit is a gift “whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:32. We must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit first and foremost. We must be obedient and not test or lie to the God who gave himself to save us from the only thing we should be fearful of.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1st John 4:18. The next time you start to be fearful and worry, remember these words. Remember what fear is, what fear does and where your fear should be. Remember what love and hope is, what love and hope does and where your love and hope should be.
“All the days written for me were ordained in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16. Life is eternal, death is short. Fear is healthy if it’s the right kind of fear.