Today is Patriot Day in the USA. It is a day of memorial for those who died in the terror attacks of 2001. That attack was designed to frighten – terrorize – Americans and remove us from the national stage. It didn’t work.
Fear is one of Satan’s most powerful tools against the Christian. Fear stops evangelism dead in its tracks. Fear causes us to question God and his great promises. The paralyzing power of fear locks the faithful into a do-nothing life which is exactly what Satan wants. It is terrorism on a spiritual scale and it will not work.
Satan is presently bound by the power of Jesus Christ. He cannot force you to sin nor can he take you against your consent. But he works through fear to cause you to cower silently just as if he were in direct control of your life. But a review of Scripture gives hope for the fearful and dashes the devil’s plan against the reality of Christ’s power.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba Father” (Romans 8:15).
“for God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).
Repeatedly, the Bible calls on us to reject fear and cling to God and his love. While fear was a reality before Jesus we have eternal hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16; Titus 1:2) and cling to the expectation of deliverance by Jesus. As servants of Jesus we will face trouble in this world but our suffering does not compare to the future glory (Romans 8:18). Nothing man can do or say will stand against the promises of Jesus. No man can come between you and your eternal salvation (John 10:28-29).
Christians do fear God. But we understand that the faithful child is not terrorized by God but respects him (Colossians 3:22). But any fear of his awesome might is tempered by a knowledge of his unfailing love. If God gave his son for us, and he did, why be afraid of him if we are faithful? If he was willing to give his only begotten son for us (John 3:16) can we question his desire for our salvation? What greater thing can he do (John 15:13)?
The terrorist of 9/11 tried to strike fear into us by their attack against innocent civilians. Satan uses the same tactic daily against those who follow the Lord. Reject fear. Stand tall. You are children of the King!
