Fear of Evil – Proverbs 1:33

“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Can you tell today that our opposition’s greatest desire is for you to fear?  Whatever that opposition may be in your life.  I am considering those opposed to God.  Those that oppose God want you to fear something.  For example, that the earth is warming, or lately, the climate is changing.  They want you to fear terrorists, wars, government dictatorship, or revolution.  Lately it even seems that they promote fear of someone not of our own skin color.  And they certainly want you to fear sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and speaking His Truth.  Fear is a handy tool of the evil one because fear crowds out faith.

Earlier in this first chapter of Proverbs, God tell us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a).  When we put God in His proper place and respect His Might Power, His Holiness, and His inability to be anything but Just, then we realize that to fear something else is to take our Almighty God out of His proper place. 

The following quote was pinned long ago.  Still, it crisply applies to us in today’s time of potential fear of evil:

“Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, He punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while He did this, He took care that His own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only so, the Lord had not simply one "Elijah," but He had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab's table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah. Let us from this draw the inference, that come what may, God's people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident, when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars. Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth, you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself upon His promise; rest in His faithfulness, and bid defiance to the blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you. Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of hearkening to the voice of wisdom.”

Hoist the evil one with his own petard!  Do not let fear take over, rather crowd out fear with your faith in an All Knowing Creator.  Our Savior has been a Sovereign God throughout thousands of years of man's government.  He has seen it all through to the end.  He knows the end.  And while He has told us it shall be as it never was before, we also know He keeps His promises:

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we may boldly say:  “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”  (Hebrews 13:5-6)

What a Mighty God we serve.  So mighty, we can be quiet from fear of evil.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Faith Overcomes the World – Psalm 11:4

“The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

This psalm addresses fear and faith.  Before David describes fear’s temptation to trust in his own strength, devices and plans, he first tells us of his resolve to trust in God:  “In the LORD I put my trust” (Psalm 11:1a).  Then it appears that David repeats a friend’s advice to flee for safety: “How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?” (Psalm 11:1b)  David is upright in heart and the wicked hate him for it.  The wicked hate anyone righteous, simply because living a righteous life for the glory of God is condemnation to the wicked.  Whether or not you confront their wickedness with words, the presence of righteousness is condemnation in itself.  And it is hated.

In this psalm, it appears wickedness has prevailed to such an extent that there is a breakdown of the moral fabric of society.  “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)  “The foundations, namely, of society; the pillars or supports of public order, peace, prosperity. These main pillars are four: authority, justice, policy, wealth. If these are shaken, the fabric totters. If they utterly fail, anarchy or tyranny ensues. When war threatens or assails, a weak distrusted government, an unrighteous cause, incapacity, an empty treasury, are more dangerous than any foreign foe. And though there were profound peace as regarded other nations, a nation afflicted with these four evils, one in which these main pillars break, would be on the verge of ruin. Yet underneath all these lies a deeper foundation—national character – “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34). The particular form in which public life rested on religion has never been possible for any other nation than Israel. None other has had a covenant like that of Sinai—an inspired code of laws; a perfect identity of Church and state. The relations of Church and state differ in different lands; are matter of controversy. This does not change the fact that public as much as private life—that of the nation no less than of the individual—is healthful, safe, prosperous, truly free, only as it conforms to God’s law: is just, truthful, temperate, pure, peaceable, benevolent.” (eSword)

Are the foundations of America destroyed?  Are we headed for anarchy or tyranny?  Have we seen any of these main pillars (authority, justice, policy, wealth) break?  Indeed, the news indicates a divided government, which is always weaker than a united government.  Not only is the authority of the government considered weak, but even local law enforcement has lost the respect of citizens.  As to justice, it fails when the laws do not apply to certain individuals or groups and when there are special interest groups elevated over others such that not all people are considered equal.  As to policy, or laws of the country, they are being re-written without consideration of the laws of God.   And lastly, history has shown us that a nation that prints money has lost its wealth.

So to whom or what do we run in times such as these, when the foundations are destroyed?  We turn to our God Almighty and have faith in Him.  We know that He sees all and misses nothing.  “God made us in His image to reflect who He is, and so to bring Him glory.  Since the Lord is righteous, He wants us to act in righteous ways.  And through His Spirit He gives us the power we need.” (Charles Stanley)  As fear and thoughts of defeat enter our minds, replace such thoughts with the truth of the Word of God: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5) 

It is said that a tree that is shaken (say by wind) will grow its roots deeper and stronger.  Our faith is similar.  Not that our faith is to be shaken, rather when the world around you begins to shake, that you deepen your faith.  How?  By spending time in His Holy Word.  There we find His promises to carry us through.  By spending time in prayer.  As we talk to God, and be quiet to listen, He brings things to mind that make us realize His incomparable love for us.  Also, our faith is encouraged in the presence of other Christians.  If you are not already in a truth speaking, Biblical based church, ask God to guide you with His Holy Spirit to the right church.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)  Sometimes it may feel like it, but you are not alone.  Do not succumb to the same pity party as Elijah: “So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword.  I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” (1 Kings 19:10)  Elijah, a significant prophet and man of God, was corrected by our Holy Creator.  Not only did God Almighty never leave nor forsake him, but God informed Elijah: “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)

Lastly, our faith is encouraged by remembering the character of our God.  He is mighty to save, He is the great provider, He is omniscient and omnipotent, He is Holy, Righteous and Just.  “Let us by faith see God on this throne, on his throne of glory, infinitely transcending the splendour and majesty of earthly princes—on his throne of government, giving law, giving motion, and giving aim, to all the creatures—on his throne of judgment, rendering to every man according to his works—and on his throne of grace, to which his people may come boldly for mercy and grace; we shall then see no reason to be discouraged by the pride and power of oppressors, or any of the afflictions that attend the righteous.  In singing this psalm we must encourage and engage ourselves to trust in God at all times, must depend upon him to protect our innocence and make us happy, must dread his frowns as worse than death and desire his favour as better than life.” (Matthew Henry)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge and delight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Departure and Death – 2 Timothy 4:6-7

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

To our knowledge, this is the last letter by the Apostle Paul.  He knew it was the end for him.  Oh that all people who call themselves Christians would live a life that is summarized with these same final words.  Not only that, but to face death with such a lack of fear. 

“With what pleasure he speaks of dying.  He calls it his departure; though it is probable that he saw he must die a violent bloody death, yet he calls it his departure, or his release.  Death to a good man is his release from the imprisonment of this world and his departure to the enjoyments of another world; he does not cease to be, but is only removed from one world to another.”  (Matthew Henry)

Make no mistake, being ‘good’ by the world’s definition does not give this kind of confidence on the death bed.  No, only faith in Jesus Christ brings such reassurance.  As Paul said at the beginning of this, his final letter:

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”    (2 Timothy 1:12)

In Paul’s thank you letter to the Philippians, he also states that, though he is in chains, he is not ashamed, and wants Christ to be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death.  And that 

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
(Philippians 1:21)

No matter how grand, if you have surrendered to Christ, this life is not as grand as the one to come.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.