Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Whom Shall I Fear?

I know that we all pretend to have no fear but in reality that is far from the truth. Man is created to fear. Fear is a form of self-defense or protection. Without fear we would all die at a much younger age. In fact, those who regularly live life on the edge do tend to get hurt more often and even die. Fear is a good thing. Fear teaches us to be wise in many ways. There is a difference between fear and panic. Fear must be controlled or managed. It is when we can't control or manage our fears that it becomes unhealthy.

So I must disagree that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Fear is not to be feared. It is to be embraced and managed. Most of the time when men are speaking of fear they are talking about not having fear of heights, speed, fighting, darkness and so forth. This may be true for alot of men but the truth is that men fear either one of two things every moment of their life. We either fear man or we fear God. Sadly, most of us fear man. What will they think about me? What are they saying about me? Will I look foolish? Most people who compete in sports aren't afraid of the action in the sport itself, they are afraid of what the people watching will think! That is fear of man! That puts mans opinion up on a high pedestal where it doesn't belong. Fear of man leads to bad things. For instance, the only reason a person would tell a lie is because they are afraid to tell the truth. They are afraid of what that person might think, say or feel about them after the truth is revealed. That is a chain! The Truth sets you free! Men also often disguise there feelings of sadness or hurt with anger because they fear the vulnerability of being sad. So they must look tough by getting angry instead. These are all results of fear of man. Fear of man has mainly to do with rejection. No one wants to be rejected so they do what it takes not to be.

To fear God means to not fear man. You are going to let God shape and mold your life and not man. God is our Creator. We are created to be inspired, taught and fueled by God but many of us are fueled by man because of fear. If you are put in a position where you did wrong and could tell a lie and get bye and you do, you fear man. If you tell the truth, even though it may carry heavy consequences, you fear God. The book of Proverbs says that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge". When you start living a life in fear of the Lord rather than in fear of man, than you will begin living a life that is commendable.

"Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both the the body and soul in hell." Matt 10:28

Jesus said this to his disciples whom He was sending out to tell the world about His good news because He knew that there would be plenty of opportunities for them to fear man due to the rejection and persecution they would receive. He was not saying this to send them out trembling in fear of Him. The fear of the Lord is and act of worship. It is a state of awe and reverence that our God and Creator is worthy of. He is worthy of our praise.

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." Matt 10:32-33


"31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Romans 8:31-35


1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

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