ISIS, climate change, Federal debt – do these things concern you? Maybe they are too far removed to make you worry, but you are anxious about your job, or some problem with your health, or even thoughts of aging and the limits that come with it. We all worry, sometime, about something. I am not by nature a fretter, but anxiety does creep up on me occasionally. Sometimes it shows up in the middle of the night, stealing sleep. Or it may visit in the afternoon announcing that it is here with the arrival of a headache or tense, cramped muscles. When fear sets up camp on the periphery of my life and I do not recognize it for too long, the apprehension morphs into depression.
Anxiety disorders cause many people terrible emotional pain. Some become so fearful of the world that they are paralyzed and unable to go to work. Others live in a constant state of heightened awareness almost in panic. Some traumatic event can set off an episode. For others, the cause is unknown.
God addresses our fears repeatedly in the Scripture with a clear admonition – “Fear not!” He does not scoff at our fears nor does He promise us a life without difficulties. Faithful Christians are not removed from the world, they walk in it. But, they never walk alone. God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5-6) Do you believe that?
Living with that confidence requires vision. The starting point for conquering our fear is not to diminish it, but to replace it. A parent can argue endlessly with his little boy about the imaginary monster that lives under his bed in the night. Is there a monster there? Certainly not, but in that little boy’s mind, every shadow on the wall, every creak in the wall, confirms what he feels! The only way to overcome his fear is to turn on the light and dispel the darkness. Our prayer, in the face of fear, must start with a prayer for the Light to shine in our heart. “Lord, shine Your light. Come and make Your Presence known,” we pray.
John, the writer of the last book in the Bible, knew personally the awful persecution that Rome was bringing down on the Christians who would not worship the Emperor. He had suffered and many around him were suffering as well. In that time, God came to him and gave him the Revelation! It’s a book full of images of blood, war, and destruction. Woven through the whole of the book there is a theme of victory, of ultimate vindication. If you have not read it recently, I recommend it. As you open the book, you will note that the first quarter is devoted to creating a picture of the Risen Christ, Lord of Glory! The gentle Savior of the Gospels is now the Conquering Lord. John saw that "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” Yes, this vision was, at first, terrifying, but then John says that “he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." (Revelation 1:14-17, NIV)
Christians need not let our culture of fear overwhelm them. They need not surrender to feelings of helplessness and terror. Why? Because we are walking with the King. Even death itself is no threat to those whose lives are hidden in Christ. John did not, as so many preachers do today, promise the saints of the first century a life of comfort. He did not tell them to pray harder to make the persecutors from the Empire go away. Rather, he counsels them to look higher, to secure themselves in the Promise of their God.
Whatever your trials, whatever your fears – only a greater vision of the Lord will relieve them. Here is the word from the Word. Lord, make us fearless. Shine the Light into our lives and break the grip of fears – from threats both real and imagined. Amen. "I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:14-8:1, NIV)
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A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper, He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe,
Doth seek to work us woe,
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide
Our striving would be losing!
Were not the right man on our side
The man of God's own choosing!
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He!
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age, the same.
And He must win the battle.
And though this world
With devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us.
We will not fear
For God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us!
The prince of darkness, grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For, lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly pow'rs,
No thanks to them abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours,
Through Him who with us sideth!
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever!
Martin Luther
© Public Domain
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