If You Are Fearful

What does "No Fear" mean? What kind of statement are those who plaster the words, "No Fear," on their back pickup windows or on their T-shirts trying to make about themselves? Is it perhaps something like "I'm not afraid of anything," or "You'd better not mess with me--I'm not afraid of you"?

Though most of these youngsters who promote "No Fear" may not know it, they are addressing a basic human need--the need for security.

Everybody has been afraid of something at some time--a near automobile accident, a thunderstorm, being robbed, a financial failure. Too many people live with a constant fearfulness--that their spouse is being or will be unfaithful, that the bottom might drop out of the stock market, or that the house might burn down, even though those fears are often groundless. Others have more tangible reasons to fear--an abusive spouse, living in a crime-ridden neighborhood, or facing a lawsuit seeking outrageous amounts of money.

Is there a way to be free from fear?

There is. But it begins by having fear.

Fear does serve a useful purpose in our lives, both physically and spiritually. Physically, if we fear getting hit by a car, we will keep out of the way. Spiritually, when we realize we are sinners, hopelessly lost and bound for hell, we should fear--and in a much greater way.

That fear should lead us to Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Only by coming to Him can we be delivered from the bondage of fear that comes with the guilt of sin. Perhaps that is why the Bible says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10).

As men and women come to Jesus Christ and begin to walk with God, they continue to fear Him. Not with a terrified kind of fear, but with awe, respect, and reverence, much as a child should reverence and respect his father. "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28).

And because the child of God loves and fears God as his heavenly Father, he can truly experience "no fear." Notice how the Bible uses the term "no fear" in relation to His children: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18).

The Bible also uses the term "no fear" when speaking of wicked men: "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). Men show that they do not fear God when they attempt to deny His existence, or when they make excuses for wrongdoing. Regardless of their professed lack of fear now, those who do not repent will know "the terror of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:11) when they stand before God the Judge on the judgment day.

How is it with you? Are you free from fear? You can be, by trusting the One who said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Rest! Imagine that! No more fear, but instead, rest. Jesus promises just that to all who come to Him and put their faith-- their complete trust--in Him.

When you do that, there is no need to fear. God is in control. "Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord" (Psalm 115:11). "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25). God makes no mistakes. And He loves to take care of His children. "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Wouldn't you like to join those who can say with the psalmist: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear" (Psalm 118:6)?

What the Bible Says About the Fear of the Lord . . .

"The Fear of the Lord . . . 

     . . . is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom
     and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).

     . . . is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
     and the froward mouth, do I hate" (Proverbs 8:13).

     . . . is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy
     is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).

     . . . prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be 
     shortened" (Proverbs 10:27).

     . . . is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death"
     (Proverbs 14:27).

If you have never seriously considered becoming a Christian

What the Bible says about YOU.

"The way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6).

"There is none righteous, no, not one. They are all gone out of the way" (Romans 3:10, 12).

What the Bible says about JESUS.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

The consequences of your CHOICE.

"And I saw a great white throne. . . . And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. . . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).

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