Fear Not

I believe there is a direct correlation between the depth of a man or woman's--or even a nation's--fear and the depth of their faith in God. Oh, not the depth of their faith in any god, but in THE God. THE God looked at the world and all its hatred, injustice, oppression, violence, self-reliance, covetous materialism, deep self-centeredness, constant fear and anxiety over a tomorrow over which they had no control and a yesterday whose choices with their consequences were rapidly gaining on them, and decided--not what I would have decided: to blow the place up and start all over--no, decided that such a world needed love and forgiveness and a hope as sure as He Himself. Surely, to look at the history of this world and think that humanity must solve its problems, rid the world of its oppression and injustice, bring about peace and selflessness is delusional--it should scare an honest man to death. The history of the world is that things are going from bad to worse.
But Christ on Calvary lovingly offers a man, living in such a world--hope. He or she need not be afraid. And the sure hope He offers is for today, for right now, as well as for the eternal future. Right now I can love in a hate filled world. Right now I can serve others and not live a life of self-centered indulgence. Right now I can refuse to pursue the lust for stuff. Right now I can raise my voice and use my body and my stuff to fight oppression and injustice. Right now I can set aside my fears of yesterday. "Surely," He promises, "My goodness and mercy will pursue you all the days of your life." Surely, I can rest in the truth that man can do nothing to me that I need fear. Surely, I can rejoice in the truth that all my tomorrows are part of His plan for good and that nothing can happen or be done to me that will separate me from His eternal love.
He who refuses to believe that the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God of infinite love and infinite goodness is in control of the history of this world--moment by moment, he who refuses to believe in the God who willingly died to give man a sure hope can only tremble in fear. The triumphant march of evil cannot be stopped by self-centered, evil humanity. Not once in the history of the world has man come close to defeating evil men, their evil choices, and the evil consequences.
But, He who puts His faith in the One who defeated sin, Who destroyed any chance of evil's final victory, Who empowers us through His Spirit to defeat evil each day, Who even put to death death itself, need never fear. Christ IS the victory that overcomes the world--today, tomorrow, and forever. Faith in THE God allows a man or woman to live a fearless life committed to resisting evil and confident in love's inevitable final victory over all evil.

"Fear not. In this troubled world I will fill you with My peace."

"Fear not. I have prepared a place for you so that where I am, there you can be also--for all eternity."

"Fear not. I will never leave you or forsake you--today, tomorrow, and during that eternal day when we will once again walk--fearlessly--in the Garden of My love.