It’s true that we live in the world. But we are not of the world. We are called by God whom we serve to embrace ultimate truths, not fear them, for Christ has done something remarkable for us. 

Whatever hard thing you are facing may turn out to be more frightful in the projection than the reality of it. Like all things that bring us fear, there is truth behind that fear, however. The truth that chokes us is that all of us will die (unless escaping at the coming of Christ). It is only a matter of time. We’re sure, as well, that our lives could end in an unexpected way. And, beyond this, most of mankind fears what is beyond death, a just judgment for their actions and thoughts. So, when the artist inserts an unknown intruder illness or cataclysmic event on the canvas where such dark knowledge is already  broad-washed as its background, fear is the result.

We could fear events or scenarios of national or worldwide destruction also. Perhaps you fear economic collapse. Like the pretentious banker, well-creased in the front, but threadbare in the rear, we struggle with the pretense of wealth sitting upon debt. We may anticipate businesses closing and governments bankrupt, we could see a broad expanse of poverty and joblessness, bold socialistic actions from which we will not soon be liberated, and prevailing discouragement as people try to push themselves upward with no sound footing beneath. It may bring suicides.

Or, these things may not happen.

Fear is the emotional reaction to a person’s ideation of destruction, loss and pain anticipated and imaginated [yes, that’s a word]. There is truth concerning ultimate death, pain and judgment at its roots.

Christians are subject to accidents, sickness, wars, and failing economies as well as those not in the Kingdom of God. It’s true that we live in the world. But we are not of the world. We are called by God whom we serve to embrace ultimate truths, not fear them, for Christ has done something remarkable for us. There are many such truths for believers, both related to this world and the next. We can let our emotion and mind fully wrap around those truths, and by doing so, not fear, but rise above those fears binding the hearts of unbelievers. As we know, the truths concerning the believer’s end are not designed to be fear-producing. The writer of Hebrews said that Christ became man and died so that “he might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (2:15).

Read More