This morning’s USA Today Financial Section had two lead articles on “fear”: first, a fear of a second recession due to lower-than-expected July “employment” and “housing” reports, and second, fears of the negative impact of Europe’s spreading debt crisis. Everyone is afraid that the economic recovery is falling short of expectations.
Although we all know that God’s children are coaxed and commanded from the first to the last pages of the Bible “not to fear,” there is at least one strong, notable exception to that rule—a commandment to be afraid. And, no, it’s not the end of the world, or impending judgment on mankind. The Bible says we should be afraid, very afraid, of “falling short” of entering God’s rest—that contentment, composure and calm that belongs only to those who are ‘resting’ in Jesus’ finished work on the Cross (Hebrews 4:1). Falling short of God’s rest (and best) for us is a terrible thing. The NLT states it even more emphatically: “God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.”
No one but you knows whether you are really resting in God—free from anxiety—during these troubling times. But if there is anything we ought to be worried and fearful about, it is falling short of or failing to obtain God’s promise to every believer—finding our rest in Jesus. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’.” (Matthew 11:28)
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