The biggest, the brightest, the strongest, smartest, most powerful people on the planet who lived in the late 1800’s are all dead, not one person alive today fears them. Pick any name out of history, any man who ruled this planet or a nation with an iron fist, whose desires for conquest and power caused all to fear him and ask anyone today if they are afraid for their life today because of him and you will probably be laughed at and then looked at in an odd manner.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)
Today they are called the elites, simply a different name given to the same type of people, those in the highest positions of power, those with armed forces behind them to enforce their will, those with much financial wherewithal, but if they are asked if they fear God they will reply with the same curious looks and laughter.
That is going to change.
“The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” (Prov. 10:7) These men come and go, if you had been alive on this planet for a few centuries you would understand that, but would you fear them any less? There are countless verses in the Scriptures that proclaim the Sovereignty, majesty and power of the Lord, of His never-ending care for those He has called to Himself, of His love for those that love His Son Jesus Christ, yet nearly every day I hear those who profess a faith in the Lord expressing fear about these wicked people, about the ever increasing days of evil we live in.
I understand full well that some of this may be of the flesh overriding at times that knowledge of assurance we have, the security of the promises of the Lord, for even Paul said, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:” (2nd Cor. 1:8) But much of what concerns me is this, these same people that are in a hurry to get to heaven seem to have no hurry to reach out to the lost.
They speak of the Rapture, of the glory that awaits them, of their desire to escape this ever-increasing darkness, but little of those who are still in that darkness, who do not have the assurance of the love they profess to have. They fear men of power who will soon die but do little or nothing to assuage the fear of those who are still lost, who are unbeknownst to them their brothers and sisters in Christ, still lost, yet to be found. They fulfill 1st Thessalonians 4:18 quite well, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” but walk right past the ones they are to speak to, those who have yet to hear the promises.
Perhaps it is that fear of embarrassment of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we have all known at one time or another, and hated within ourselves, perhaps it is a lack of concern for the lost yet to be found, the idea that the responsibility is for others to accomplish, the elders, deacons or pastor of their church. Perhaps it is fear. Perhaps though it is a self-centered faith though, one that concerns itself only with self and the safety of it, wanting to be removed from the ever growing evil of the day only because of a fear they do not want to face. God knows, I do not.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
“Didn’t I want to be with you, even at the expense of others?”
So sad.
