This world is full of things to fear. Experience conditions us to fear sickness, disease, crime, poverty, and even ideas. Many are afraid to die, and some are even afraid of living in that fear. In 2020, we all endured a time when the whole world lived in fear. Even churches all around the globe yielded to fear and temporarily closed their doors. Some never reopened. We were told to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25) out of fear of sickness. However, if “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10), and the LORD’s command is that “thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matt. 4:10), then forsaking corporate worship is fearing something other than God.
Storytelling is as old as humanity. Recounting tales of heroic deeds, even ones that are more legend than fact, can inspire children and adults to face their fears. Think of the many stories behind the Medal of Honor, the highest honor the military awards. Since 1861, 3,517 Medal recipients have been recognized as displaying exceptional courage in the face of danger. Each man and woman has a different story of incredible bravery: running into enemy fire to save many wounded; saving countless lives by risking or sacrificing their own life. Woven into each Medal of Honor is the story of facing and conquering fear.
From my own time at war, I can tell you that no two people respond identically in a life-or-death situation. How each person reacts depends on his own response to the “fight or flight” instinct. The fight-or-flight reaction, which occurs when the body perceives a threat to its survival, causes people to either “fly” out of harm’s way, or to assume a position to “fight.” I have even seen the same person respond differently to this instinct at different times. In one situation he might fight; in the next he might instinctively choose to fly. While Christians should be wise enough to know when to fight and when to fly, our response to the responsibility of advancing God’s Word should not be governed by either fight or flight.
The reason we should neither fight nor fly is that we know that “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54) by the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He defeated death forever by atoning for sin on the cross and resurrecting from the grave three days later. This “hope which is laid up in heaven” (Col. 1:5), that He secured for us, should keep us from fearing death. While we do not hope for death, we should look forward to going home, and we should not fear leaving this world. Early in my life, I understood that “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecc. 3:1-2), that GOD knew that time, and that when the time came there was nothing I could do to prevent it. However, this motivated me to plunge carelessly into danger, believing that if it were my time to go that it was inevitable. Like most young men, I felt bulletproof. While it is true that the person who lives in fear of God and seeks to please God according to his limited knowledge need not fear man or disease, the irrational youthful impulse to be “brave” is not what David meant when he said to “be of good courage” (Psalm 27:14).
As Christians, we are to “declare his glory among the heathen” (Ps. 96:3) by “teaching all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). As we fulfill this, we know that our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). We fight a real spiritual battle every second of every day. Satan, as a fearsome archer, will shoot temptations and troubles our way, yet we are told “thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day” (Ps. 91:5). If we follow God’s Word, and heed His calling, we should not succumb to fear. After all, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power and love, and of sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). The love that Jesus has for us is perfect; it protects us, and it “casteth out fear: because fear hath torment” (1 John 4:18). As we carry out His will, dodging arrows and living through danger, we can rest secure in His love, confident that "the LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,” and that God is “my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Ps. 18:2). We should live without fear of persecution, physical pain, heartache, “the terror by night,” or “the arrow that flieth by day,” because “our conversation is in heaven: from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). He has gone to “prepare a place for you” and He will “come again and receive you” to himself (John 14:2-3).
Friends, do not live in fear! Be “bold as a lion” (Prov. 28.1) and be like Paul, “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all CONFIDENCE” (Acts 28:31). Remember, “he that hath fear is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). God’s promise is that, as you walk this life fearlessly, “thine ears shall hear a word behind thee”—the voice of Jesus—saying, “this is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
The above article was written by Jonathan Thornton. He is a military veteran and member of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
Every Tuesday, SFL publishes relevant Bible-based content. Check back next Tuesday to read the next SFL article.
More SFL...
Pastor Johnson's series in John continues in chapter 10 with "The Good Shepherd; So What?"
Comments