The Problem of Fear
The Bible has the answer
"Project Fear" is a well-known term in the Brexit debate in the UK but if we read our Bibles "Project Fear" began some millennia ago. The author of "Project Fear" was the devil. When the first man Adam committed the first sin fear entered into the human race. This fear was caused by a feeling of guilt and fear and guilt have ravaged humanity ever since.
As a child at Cape Hill Junior School in Smethwick near Birmingham in the 1950's we used to learn Psalms.
One of these was Psalm 46. In verses 1 and 2 we read these words,
"God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble
Therefore shall we NOT fear"
Time after time in the Old and New Testament we read these words "Fear not"
That wonderful Christian, Reverend David Watson, entitled his last book "Fear no evil" when he was dying of cancer. The message of David's book is clear,
"Be fearful of nothing, including death itself"
The book of Hebrews makes it clear that if we are fearful of death we are slaves to that fear all our lifetime (Hebrews 2 v 15).
Medically speaking there are all kinds of phobias (fears). There are literally dozens of fears which cause real anxiety. For example there is the fear of ill health, the fear of growing old, the fear of getting cancer or dementia, the fear of financial difficulties. There are more than two and a half million people in the UK who have a real fear of loneliness. Some even have a fear of living.
The Bible's answer to fear is two fold.
Firstly, the Bible says,
"Perfect love casts out fear" (John 4 v 18).
God loves everyone perfectly i.e. 100%.
On a Victorian gravestone in Birmingham we read these words concerning the death of a young lady,
"The friend of sinners was her Friend,
Trusting in Him she met her end,
Not in the judgment shall she fear
There shall her Friend as Judge appear"
Secondly, Christ is with us all the time. We are never alone.
In the words of Psalm 46 v 5 "God is in the midst of her".
In Psalm 23 King David makes the same point as David Watson when he says,
"Though I walk through the valley of death I WILL FEAR NO EVIL for YOU ARE WITH ME (Psalm 23 v 4).
In summarising it is NOT God's will that we should live out lives in fear.
The Apostle Paul knew that God loved him perfectly when he wrote, " The Son of God loved me have Himself for me" (Galatians 2 v 20).
The Apostle Paul knew also that GOD WAS WITH HIM AT ALL TIMES and God's promise to Paul is true for all of us who trust in Jesus.
In the words of Psalm 46 v 5 "God is in the midst of her".
In Psalm 23 King David makes the same point as David Watson when he says,
"Though I walk through the valley of death I WILL FEAR NO EVIL for YOU ARE WITH ME (Psalm 23 v 4).
In summarising it is NOT God's will that we should live out lives in fear.
The Apostle Paul knew that God loved him perfectly when he wrote, " The Son of God loved me have Himself for me" (Galatians 2 v 20).
The Apostle Paul knew also that GOD WAS WITH HIM AT ALL TIMES and God's promise to Paul is true for all of us who trust in Jesus.
