Borrowed Truths

Near or Far Fear?

Picture of Borrowed Truths

Near or Far Fear?

What shall it be this week? More fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes? “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)

Another outbreak of a so-called pandemic, increased numbers of heart attacks and other maladies of the flesh? How about some climate change news, excess heat, excess cold, too much rain or not enough rain? “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” (Psalm 11:4)

Perhaps more mandates and lockdowns, imposed regulations based upon faulty or misrepresented information, a crash of the economic system, lack of food and energy? “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

The attempts of Satan never vary, either cause desire or fear, there is very little else that he has at his disposal. At this particular time, at least in a general view, he has decided upon fear, lust of course is still out there, and will continue to grow, no matter the manner it arrives in, but fear is the main purpose, to hinder mankind from trusting in the Most High, and to bring people to a trust in Satan. “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Rev. 13:3) That my friends does not just happen overnight.

Unless you offer people something, they will not follow you, they will not obey you, and the decision must be made before the final door is opened, will that obedience come from fear or from love. The Lord God has never forced or attempted to cause anyone to obey Him through fear, He has brought chastisement, sometimes in very serious ways upon those who determined to follow Him, those He called in love, but never initially in a way that threatened them with punishment if they did not serve Him. Our free will allows us to make the choice of who we will serve and why, and if you are serving Christ because you are afraid of Him, then you are not one of His.

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jer. 31:3) You will not hear these words from our adversary, he does not care if you love him or hate him, as long as you obey.

Fear is a wonderful persuader, and unrealized fear works just as well as that fear on your doorstep, in fact, sometimes even better, for that which arrives in your life requires some form of immediate action, while that which is only perceived from a distance can, and many times does, cause unwarranted fear. So then, which possible event causes you fear, the waters rising or the waters disappearing? The invisible virus or the loss of your monetary resources? The lack of food?

I wonder, do you have Proverbs 3:5-6 memorized only, or do you live it? “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Is Philippians 1:21 a reassuring verse of comfort, one lived with hope, or a handy catchphrase you use in the company of other believers? “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Are you prepared to sing the Sunday morning songs of praise while looking for some form of shelter for the night and perhaps a crumb of bread to eat? Is the fear far away enough to cause you to doubt the Sovereignty of the Most High? What then when it arrives at your doorstep, will you find yourself to be the chaff or the wheat, will you find that all along you were deceiving yourself, that you have always been standing on the sinking sand and not the Rock that is Jesus Christ? “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:25)

Fear my friends, in these regards, is a sin, for it means that you are not trusting in Jesus Christ as the Sovereign Lord and director of your life.

Share this post

Search

Archives

Secrets

I will ask this question of you through an example. A pastor I know was speaking once to

Read More »

Categories:

There are several items I would ask you to consider before you click on the Donate button.

1.    Please pray carefully about donating; “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2nd Cor. 9:7)

2.    Your first responsibility is to the Lord; “Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase”: (Prov. 3:9)

3.    You must consider your family after your first responsibility; “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1st Tim. 5:8)

4.    If you determine that you have been blessed by this ministry and decide to donate, please know this, your donations will be accepted with great thanks, and all the glory will go to God.