Fear is a real part of life. Fear of pain, death, loneliness, rejection. These are all things that many people are paralyzed by. Whether a fear of pain hinders someone from ever putting themselves in a position to be vulnerable, or a fear of death freezes someone enough to not enjoy life, or the fear of loneliness drives people to find their value only in other's opinions, or maybe even the fear of rejection callouses someone to never get close to anyone. All of these things drive people to alter their lives. They are real fears, real in the sense that people wrestle with them, and each person in someway deals with the fear in their everyday lives, they learn somehow to live in the midst of their fear.
In I John 4:18, the scripture says that perfect love casts out fear. Fear comes when we realize we have no control and that because of our lack of control something is going to harm, hurt, or terrify us. In the verse before (vs 17) the day of judgement is mentioned. This is the day in which we will stand before a Holy and Just God and be judged for eternity because of our sin. The truth is that before Christ, this was a day to be feared. A day in which you and I would be the victims of the wrath of a perfect God against sinful man. But check this out, when Christ paid the penalty for you and for me, that day is different. Fear is replaced by joy.
The work completed by Christ on the cross turns the scariest day ever into the day we long to see, the day we yearn for. Jesus' love poured out on the cross drives the fear of judgement away.
In a season of time when we watch scary movies, dress up in crazy costumes, and pay money to some haunted house so some guy name Billy Bob can jump out at us with a chainsaw, let us be reminded that Christ paid a serious price so that you and I have nothing to fear. His love drove the fear of judgement away.
Have you ever accepted Jesus' sacrifice for your life?
If you were to face God today would you have anything to fear or has His perfect love driven away that fear because you are His child?
2 comments:
I find that anxiety comes when I rely on myself or what I possess. We mistakenly call these things possessions. As I have gotten old, I realize that these things are possessors. When worry and fear overtake me, I meditate on the last part of Matthew 6 and the last part of Romans 8. My eternal destiny is linked to my identification.
so right my friend
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