Every believer in Christ has to define his or her
relationship with fear. There is a positive aspect of fear. For instance when
you fear God to the extent that you check yourself from doing anything evil, it
is very healthy. But we are looking at the negative aspect of fear. Jesus tells us not to fear our persecutors. They may be our
neighbours, relatives, parents, or even those in authority. As long as they
stand in our way to stop us from following Jesus, we should not yield to them.
The reason is stated:
‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to
kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell’ (Matt 10:28). The worst a man or demon can do to you, is engineer
physical death. But should you die for the sake of the Gospel or for refusing
to stop following Jesus, heaven will be opened to give you a most heroic
welcome. Even if your persecutors have burnt your physical body, at the Rapture
you will recover it intact, but this time in a glorified form.
Some people who belong to secret societies are afraid of
coming out entirely, even after seeing the light in Jesus. They are afraid
their colleagues will put into effect the death oath which they took on the day
of initiation. But they fail to know that once they receive Jesus Christ as
Lord, and renounce their covenant with such societies and burn all their
regalia, the devil will have lost his hold over them. At such a point they come
under the special protection of the blood and Name of Jesus.
Are you afraid to obey God on certain issues? Are you afraid
of leaving your job for the full time ministry that God is leading you into?
Are you afraid of leaving your country for foreign missions? Are you afraid of
saying ‘Yes’ to that suitor, because he is not rich? If you are sure God is
leading you, then do not fear for your future. It may be unknown to you, but
God knows all about it. He knows why he has chosen you for that assignment. Why
not trust him? After all, he has promised that he thinks good, not evil,
concerning you.
‘In God I will praise his word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.’ (Ps 56:4)
Realize that if God is all-powerful, all-knowing and has
your good in mind, then his guidance must be the best for your life.
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