FEAR NOT

FEAR NOT

By ARTHUR MARICLE, Associate Pastor

LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH

1345 SKYLINE DRIVE

LEMON GROVE, CALIFORNIA 91945

A popular name brand in America today is "No Fear". It has become a motto for the young people of our country. It epitomizes the recklessness of our youth today, that they are prepared to take any risk to fulfill their fleshly desires. The fame of those who successfully "push the envelope" eclipses the tragedy of the lives broken, or prematurely ended, in similar attempts.

In the eternal scheme of things, this generation would do better to scrap the haughty attitude of "no fear" for the humble demeanor that would "know fear" – that is, to know the fear of a sinner who must answer to an ever-living, omnipotent, omniscient God who hates sin and has sworn to punish it absolutely and eternally. "No fear" displays ignorance; "know fear" manifests wisdom.

Once a soul has been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, it may progress beyond the "know fear" stage to the bliss of "fear not" – that is to say, while retaining a healthy fear of God as Heavenly Father who is prepared to chastise an erring child, the faith of a son of God reaches a level of maturity in which he no longer fears any human being or any earthly circumstance.

He learns that anything that touches his person must (1) be allowed by his loving Father, (2) work for his greater good, and (3) bring greater glory to the Lord.

But for the average worldling engulfed in a deteriorating society, secret terrors mock the world’s defiant claim to "no fear". Every evening his television documents the fact that the "wages of sin is death".

He sees, hears, and reads of wars and rumors of wars, economic uncertainties, corporate downsizing, home invasion robberies, drive-by shootings, road rage, gang warfare, muggings, rape, murder, drug proliferation, an explosion of sexually transmitted diseases – the list of modern calamities seems endless.

All this occurring in a new millennium, after a century in which many of these problems were supposed to have been diminished or even eliminated.

To the Bible believer, today’s confusion and carnage was predictable. We understand the truth of Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

We have witnessed the truth of this Scripture. Having lost the fear of the Lord, we as a society have entered the age of fools. Fools control the media. Fools run for office, and then gain control of the mechanics of government when the foolish majority elects them to power. The foolish politicians then appoint fools to permeate the bureaucracy. Fools sit on the benches of our courtrooms, which were the last bastions of prudence in America. Fools teach in the schools, and replicate themselves in their students. No wonder that even a generation ago Lester Roloff could declare that "America is an insane asylum run by the inmates."

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) If there is no fear of the Lord and no knowledge of the holy in the leadership of this country’s institutions, then we are a nation being led without wisdom or understanding.

Character is an issue in leadership. (It’s a shameful sign of the times that such a declaration has been a hot topic of political debate in recent years.) In fact, character is the issue in leadership. Without leadership with character, this country is doomed. And as the machinery of government and economics fail, together with the moderating influence of common civility, fear is an inevitable outcome.

"The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah." (Psalm 9:15-16) "Arise, O LORD: let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah." (v. 19-20)

Fear is inevitable because there is no hope and little help for the unsaved. This life is everything to an unsaved person. To threaten his present life is to threaten the totality of his being, and to move him to intense fear. But rendering him helpless and vulnerable, and ultimately calling him to the Lord’s Great White Throne of supreme justice, is exactly what Jehovah intends to do. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)

To these hapless souls who refused God’s instruction, the Lord says: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." (Proverbs 1:26-32)

There is no hope and little help for the unsaved, but there is all hope and much help for the obedient child of God. The very next verse in the passage quoted above declares: "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

After overcoming overwhelming odds to win the first war described in the Bible, God’s faithful servant Abraham heard these reassuring words of Jehovah: "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

David’s testimony about God’s faithfulness in protecting His followers is sprinkled throughout the Psalms. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) "Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 118:4)

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies around about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me." (Psalm 27:1-7)

"Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." (Psalm 56:1-4)

Solomon had a strong testimony about God’s care of those who put their trust in Him. "The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." (Proverbs 3:19-26)

Jesus admonished His disciples about the fears they were sure to confront upon His departure from their sight. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and him, that shall not be known." (v.26) "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (v. 28)

"Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke :27-32)

The Apostle Paul advised his pastoral protégé, Timothy, about his fears. "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

To the Hebrew Christians he taught: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15) For the Christian, there is victory over mankind’s greatest fear: death.

There is, as well, power to overcome the fears that naturally arise when our day-to-day physical welfare is threatened. "Let your conversation be without eovetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Someone at this point may well blurt out, "But I’m so frightened! I’m frightened about crime. I’m frightened about the economy, and my finances, and what will happen if I lose my job, and my future security. I’m frightened about losing my health, or losing my mind."

"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Hebrews 13:7) Let’s follow the sublime example of the great saints who have preceded us, and allow the fear of God to replace both the fear of man and the fear of circumstances.

"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD." (Psalm 34:4-11)

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as he of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." (Psalm 34:14-19)

Be not dismayed what ere betide, God will

take care of you;

Beneath His wings of love abide, God will

take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you;

When dangers fierce your path assail, God

will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide, God will

take care of you;

Nothing you ask will be denied, God will

take care of you.

No matter what may be the test, God will

take care of you.

Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God

will take care of you.

God will take care of you,

Through everyday,

O’er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him." (Psalm 103:13)

Worldlings do not have that promise. Having no fear of the Lord, they have no peace, no reservoir of inner peace, no satisfaction, no joy, no sense of an eternal reward to compensate them for today’s trial and sacrifice. They fear with good cause, as those who face an inevitable doom. But the world’s fear can be for us an opening through which we can present the Gospel.

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 20-23)

Meanwhile, beloved, God’s grace provides you with abundant resources to not only survive the difficulties of the present, but actually to thrive in the midst of the trials. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24-25)

On that promise, Christian, you may rest assured!!