Since the 2002 shoe bombing, we have to remove our shoes to go through airport security. Now with the “underwear bomber”… well, I’m just relieved to know someone has invented “Body Scanners!” Indeed, some rather unusual precautions have been (and will be) taken as a result of the fear of terrorism. It has added a new dimension to the term: “fear of flying,” (or is it fear of dying?).
After Adam sinned, his first words were ‘I was afraid’, a precursor of mankind’s future fear driven choices and behaviors. Not surprisingly, the admonition to “fear not” is used over 150 times in the Bible. When the angel approached Mary announcing the birth of Jesus, he said “fear not” (Luke 1:30) Then the same words were spoken to the shepherds in the field (Luke 2:10). It’s as though God was saying ‘now that My son is here, you need no longer fear.’ And of course, there were many times in the course of His earthly ministry when Jesus said “fear not.” It seems pretty clear that Jesus came to put an end to fear.
The writer of Hebrews explains that “…by dying, Jesus broke the power of the Devil, who had the power of death, to deliver those who lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying” (Heb. 2:14-15 paraphrased). Think about it. When you are no longer afraid to die, there is nothing left to fear.
As I reflected on this, I thought of the Muslim extremists. One of the reasons the Al Qaeda will be difficult to defeat is that they are not afraid to die. What if we Christians were like that? The devil can only defeat us to the degree that we are afraid to die. But the death we fear most is not physical death (end of life) as much as we are afraid to die to the things we love (end of self). If every Christian was not afraid of the latter, how different would the world be today?
Wow! Henry and I were talking last night and the big issue was over my constant, "fear." I have to take this message in. I am not to live nor be driven by "fear." Timely! Thank you.
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