Are You Tired of Being Afraid?

I am. I’m tired of people trying to run my life (and yours too) by fear. The government and the media have taken on the role of Chicken Little – everyday they bombard us with messages that are basically the same “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” The economy, disease, global warming (or is it global cooling now?), unrest, etc., etc., etc. We have become a nation controlled by fear. Does anyone else wonder what they’re doing behind the curtain of fear? What it is that they’re trying to hide from us while we all run around trying to avert the next disaster? As Christians we have no reason to be afraid, in fact, if the sky truly is falling shout “AMEN” - ‘cause that means Jesus is coming! There is no reason to live without hope, without peace. We have no need to be scared and afraid. We have no need to hide, we have work to do! You see some day the sky really will fall, Jesus will come back and people will be lost. Lost because we were so afraid of disaster that we stopped sharing the gospel.

Yes, bad things happen here. This is not a perfect world, in fact it is a fallen one. After Adam and Eve had sinned, this is what God said to Adam:

"Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil
you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and
thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the
sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; fro dust you are and to dust you will return."
Genesis 3: 17b-19.

You see, not only did God pronounce a curse on Satan, Adam, and Eve; he also pronounced a curse upon the world, this world. Perfection here does not, cannot and will not exist. The Garden of Eden is gone and we must deal with the consequences. Why are we still looking here for what cannot be found? Wishing isn't going to do it, dreaming isn't going to do it, praying isn't going to do it - heck, even Larry the Cable Guy can't git 'er done. Sickness, death, destruction, sadness, sorrow, all exist upon this earth and will continue to do so until Jesus returns and God makes a new heaven and a new earth. These are the working conditions that God has placed us in. He also gave us the tools to deal with them.

Be smart, take precautions, be good stewards, help your fellow brothers and sisters in need. But don’t be afraid. Fear is a tool of the enemy. Satan uses fear to keep us from fulfilling the will of God. And not fulfilling God’s will is probably the one thing that we should be afraid of! Take heart, trust in the promises of God, call on him and He shall answer you. Peace and hope are yours for the taking. Ask and you shall receive. Proclaim the gospel without fear so that when the sky truly does fall and Jesus returns people shall not be afraid and lost, they shall rejoice at going home.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Psalm 27:1-3

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand my fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Psalm 91:5-7

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on the the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace; sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess 5:16-23