But God.
This last assurance in verse six is that we do not need to even fear death itself. Too many Christians do not walk in the victory Christ already appropriated for them with His sacrifice on Calvary. Too many are so afraid of dying they forget to live. They let the enemy speak condemnation and death into their lives. The accuser often wins the battles, knowing he has already lost the war. The fear of death is the number two fear in America. The dual meaning in this verse is not only the fear of the physical death, but that of the assurance that our relationship with God has been restored. We need to walk in the eternal life we already have and stop questioning our salvation or relationship with God. Jesus Christ already paid the price for us! If our hearts have been genuinely regenerated we will know it because we will be a new creation in Christ. There is no need to fear death, whether it is physical death or spiritual death.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? - 1Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)
Where indeed? God's arms are not short. His reach is not limited. It matters not what time of day, what month or season. It matters not how great the task, or how small the annoyance. It matters not because God said it does not matter. We fear the things of man when the Bible tells us not to!
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. - Psalm 56:11 (NIV)
We put God into a box of our own failings and insecurities and then forget that He has already released us from all bondage, as declared in Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." I am comforted by the story of the three Hebrew boys who refused to compromise and bow down to the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. When they faced their own destruction that wasteth at noonday, they did not flinch:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." -- Daniel 3: 16-18 (NLT)
Did they have to face the fear of their imminent death? Absolutely! They even had to watch as the king heated the fiery furnace up seven times hotter! But when faced with what they felt and what they believed -- they spoke from what they believed.
Fear, anxiety and panic are very real feelings beloved. I know because I suffered badly for seven years with panic, before I came to Christ. Most who have recovered will admit that the feelings still try to creep back in sometimes. What we learn is not how to avoid the feelings but how to respond to them. As Christians we believe the Bible is the inerrant inspired Word from God Himself. It contains promises for us to grab a hold of and believe by faith. That faith has power to set these promises into action in our lives. When Jesus healed in the Gospels He always said it was done according to the faith that was shown.
The devil is a fierce adversary. Do not buy into the bless me theologies of modern Christianity that try and convince you that you don't have to worry about the enemy to your very souls. He will unleash the terror by night where he seeks to supplant what we believe with what we feel. He seeks to add up the little things in our lives into bigger problems. An arrow here and an arrow there. He seeks to use the pestilence to our souls, sin, to unsettle our walk with God. He hangs the specter of death over our heads when Jesus Christ has already conquered the grave. Psalm 91, verses 5 and 6 assure us that we need not be afraid of any of these in our lives. The Bible says that God's perfect love casts out all fear. Do you get that today? The love of God and the fears of this world cannot co-exist in the same space. If you find yourself fearful today the answers of this world will not help you. They might cover up some feelings but create new problems in the process. No beloved, if you find yourself fearful today go back into His Word. Go back into His promises. Go back into His love and let it cast out the fear. It may not be automatic. It may not be easy. But it is the only way.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- February 6, 2013
