who do you fear

I have a testimony, and often when I come across my friends, family or fellow Christians I tell them.  Because there was a time when I was sick, I would sometimes have anxiety attacks for weeks and I would fall into deep depressions that no one could console me from.  I had been to three hospitals with these problems, but not until the L-rd healed me have I had one moment of reprieve for the past four years.  But recently, those attacks have been coming back- and I have returned to the cross and the Word of the L-rd for my answers.  What is the cause of my trouble when I know Christ healed me?  Have I turned my path from the L-rd?  I attend Church each Sunday, I go to Bible school two times a week, I attend important Church meetings and events monthly.  But surprisingly I have left the path of the L-rd.  Fear has led me astray- the wrong kind of fear.

Is fear healthy? “The LORD has said to me in the strongest terms: ‘Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be afraid that some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you. Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe.’”(NLT Isaiah 8:11-14).  First, how does everyone think?  We all have our day-to-day worries: bills, relationships, jobs and anything else that effects us are fair game to be analyzed and perpetuated.  But the Bible says if you fear the L-rd you don’t need to worry about any of that.  To many of us it may seem foolish not to consider the future in the way we are used to, but G-d knows that if we are doing what He wants (fearing Him) you will be naturally doing what is good and right because everything in line with G-d is holy.

Solomon has told us in his Proverbs “Fear of the L-rd is the beginning of knowledge.  Only fools despise wisdom and disipline” (NLT Prov. 1:7).  And Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us the right way to fear and love the L-rd is with “all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.” (NLT)  There should be no room to worry about how you are going to pay your bills; if you exersize godly wisdom and disipline the way the L-rd asks you, that is enough.  Besides, Jesus tells us, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  Of course not.” (NLT Matt. 6:27).  But what happens if you mess up?  Will G-d not help you if you don’t do all of this just right?

No.  G-d knows that if there is no room to fail there would be no point in trying, that is why He in His infinite wisdom has created the system of Grace.  Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 tells us:

So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don't be too wicked either--don't be a fool! Why should you die before your time? So try to walk a middle course--but those who fear God will succeed either way. (NLT)

Solomon the wise tells us that not only the wise will succeed, but the foolish too as long as they fear the L-rd, “for this is the beginning of knowledge”.

            The truth of these scriptures is reflected in the life of Simon Peter.  Peter made mistakes like any of us; in fact, when Christ asked him to join Him Peter said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me--I'm too much of a sinner to be around you.” (NLT Luke 5:8).  Christ knew, however, that Peter’s sins would not stop him from becoming an asset to the Kingdom of G-d.  Instead of condemning Peter, Jesus said, “Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!” (NLT Luke 5:10).

            Peter loved G-d, and now we know that this love brings us redeeming Grace and Christ’s love and guidance in every walk of life.  Before the Asention Jesus spoke to Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

   "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you."

   "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.

    Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

   "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you."

   "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.

   Once more he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

   Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." (NLT John 21:15-17)

This is essentially all that matters.  If you will love Christ with everything you have you will have abundant and eternal life.  With these promises, why worry about anything else?  However, Jesus also said to Peter, ““The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go.”  Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”” (NLT John 21:18-19).  Before you found Jesus (when you were young) you could do anything you like, worry not worry or be wise or foolish.  But now you have found Christ (you are older and wiser) and you will be led down paths that you do not want to travel to bring Glory to G-d.  However, Jesus still offers you the same joys of salvation that He offered to Peter if you only listen to His parting words and follow Him.

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