FEAR

For the past few months we have been confronted by one concern after another.  Uncertainty, coupled with what we do know has been enough to cause everyone some level of anxiety.  I have always heard that we should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  To that end, I ask you to think about this idea of fear.

What is your greatest fear?  What is the absolute worst thing you can imagine?  Ok, that is not exactly a pleasant way to start a devotional blog.  But my reason for asking is simply to get us to think about the worse-case scenario.  If you are a believer and you note the title to my website, then you will be interested in what the Bible has to say about this.  Thus, I submit to you a list of the most feared passages in Scripture.  The list is certainly not all-inclusive and it is subjective on my part, but I think you will agree these passages indeed describe a worse-case scenario.

Matt 7:23                             I never knew you

“Never, not at any time did I know you.”  The implication being that even though there was a pretense of religion from some, it was not genuine.

Matt 25:41                          depart from Me

In life we have the opportunity to draw near unto GOD (James 4:8).  There will come a time when that opportunity is over.   When the door of our life closes, so too will our opportunity to draw nigh unto GOD.  This departure will be for all eternity.

John 12:39                           they could not believe

Notice the text says could not.  It is not they would not believe; it is they could not believe.  Our hearts can harden to the point we can no longer be touched with the truth.

Eph 4:19                               being past feeling

As in the previous reference, we can get to the point of being past feeling.  We can allow our hearts to harden to the point of no return.

Heb 2:1                                 take heed lest we drift away

The term drift away carries with it the idea of something happening gradually. Drifting away from the truth usually happens in small incremental steps.  This is the process of allowing our hearts to harden.  It happens over time rather than all at once.

Rev 20:15                             And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Hell is real.  Eternity is forever. 

Let us live our lives with the knowledge of these feared passages and remember what Paul told Timothy in what would be his last epistle preserved for us.  For GOD has not given us a spirit of fear.  (2 Tim 1:7)

And may this encourage us even more to:

Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

Let us consider whether the anxiety we currently face is related to things of a temporal nature or spiritual nature.  Sure the anxiety is real.  Sure our concerns are real.  But how do they measure up when considering the things of an eternal nature?