(Pastor James Scarborough, Donalsonville Assembly of God)

While my wife was getting ready for work a few mornings ago, I heard an unusual squeal come from the room she was in. It was not long before she flung open the door and emerged to tell me what prompted her strange response: a mouse had run across the room much too close to her bare feet for comfort! Let me be quick to say that my reaction probably would have been no better than hers if the creature had visited me instead.

I think I have taken care of the mouse problem, so that is all that I will say about that!

It is rather amazing how some things that are no real threat to us strike such fear into us, while other things that can do us great harm are given little thought. We run from mice, but we drive down the highway at great speeds with all kinds of distractions keeping us from being alert and focused on the dangers that can suddenly come upon us. And we thoughtlessly take up habits and involve ourselves in activities that are disasters just waiting to happen, but we become consumed by fear at the possible loss of temporary things.

The false sense of security that says “it won’t happen to me” has been proven wrong multiplied times over!

In a conversation with His disciples, Jesus Christ did not waste any words as He reminded them of Whom they should fear. “I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you Whom you should fear: Fear Him Who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5, NIV).

We fear other people for a lot of legitimate reasons: there are those that want to steal our belongings, some that want to treat us unfairly and even those that for no good reason would murder us. Yet as horrible as those possibilities at the hands of men are, they are limited to this life. God, however, is in complete control and has authority now and for all eternity. Therefore, we should fear and revere Him above all.

As we consider the words of Christ in Luke 12:4-5, it is unhealthy to understand them to mean that God desires to throw people into hell. That is not the case in the least. The very purpose that God had for sending Christ to earth was so that sinful people could believe upon Him, be forgiven of sin and receive His gift of everlasting life, thus avoiding the horrible and very real place of everlasting death. Luke 19:10 reminds us of the mission of Christ: “For the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] came to seek and to save what was lost.” That is, He came to deliver men and women from the deadness of sin and bring them into the newness of spiritual life.

To fear God in the proper way is to acknowledge His power and authority, while at the same time recognizing His love, care and provisions for us. When we do so, there is no need to fear and fret, instead we can relax in the peace that He gives. But to reject His provision of love and forgiveness is to choose a future that is filled with fear.