Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Job 21:9 (emphasis added)

This verse right here is proof that humans have been whining as long as humans have been around. Look what’s happening to me. Look how it isn’t happening to them. Why doesn’t it happen to them? Why does it happen to me? We are so selfish! Why is everything about us? The world is FULL of people. Many cultures. Many lives. Each and every one has a vibrant life in their head. Their own story. Their own way of viewing and interacting with the world. Who are we to say that our way is better than their way? That what happens to US has more weight or importance than what happens to them? Why is it that OUR feelings are so special? What WE think so important? It is selfish, though we try and cover it up. We try to include other ‘good’ people with us in our whining. Take the classic: Why do bad things happen to good people? That one’s great. Because if you really think about it, the real question is the same implied question in today’s verse: Why do good things happen to bad people?

Think about it. Bad things happen to everyone. It’s the nature of the universe. God isn’t causing bad things to happen or sending bad things. Nothing bad comes from God. Everything good comes from God. Job was being tormented. Had he been walking away from God? Away from the blessings of the Lord because He wasn’t obeying the rules? — Old Covenant, remember. Was he sinning or running from the Lord. No, there’s nothing that supports that. But then, there is nothing that supports the commonly held idea that God and Satan had a bet about Job. That God gave His permission to Satan to attack Job. No, Satan was merely told that he already had his claws into Job’s business. Job knew his life was touched by God, but he doesn’t seem to have believed God had the rest in His hands too. Look at Job 3:25-26: “For the thing which I fear comes on me, that which I am afraid of comes to me. I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither do I have rest; but trouble comes.” Yet, while Job dwelt on the negative, God said he was BLAMELESS. These verses show a principal, but not the principal in operation in Job’s life. What WAS the principal in operation? Job had no redeemer. He was in a fallen world, Jesus hadn’t come, and the devil had power over him because the devil had dominion on the Earth.

It says in Job 1:22 “In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.” With his LIPS he did not sin – he was blameless. But what was in his heart? What was Job thinking as he looked around himself at all that was in the world? He could look around himself and see that the rest of the world was going on same ‘ol same ‘ol. Bad people surviving and thriving. Maybe he thought: Why is that? Why doesn’t God punish everyone bad? (by the way, I thank the Lord daily that He doesn’t punish us. Because I don’t want to get what I deserve. I am thrilled with the Grace He has provided. I thank Him daily that Jesus took my penalty and paid my dues.). We know Job did a lot of thinking because of the questions he asked later. Of his lament that he had no mediator. What we find throughout scripture are the answers to the questions Job asked.

One of the answers is in Exodus 34:5-7. Moses was on the mountain. He’d gotten the ten commandments, then gone down and broke them in anger as the Israelites were already turning from God, went through that, and got the command to bring up stone tablets for a second set of the commandments. Moses had asked to see God’s glory. But no one can see the face of God and live (His righteousness is too much for us – which is why Jesus became human. We can see Him. We can touch Him. Because by Grace, through Faith, He gives us His nature and changes us into a new being.). But He told Moses where to hide. God said He would cover Moses with His hand as He passed by, but then would move it and Moses see His back. And this is what happened:

“Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name. Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”“

And that was in the Old Covenant! The law. But we were freed by that. Jesus became like us in every respect so He could stand as a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God and atone for all our sins (Hebrews 2:17-18). He did that for us while we were in sin. God made atonement for us before we knew Him or cared about Him or wanted Him in any way. God loves us. All of us. He has extended to us the same Grace, the same Mercy, and has the same Love for each and every one of us. From the worst person ever to the humanitarian philanthropist.

Why do good things happen to bad people? The same reason they happen to any of us: God loves us and gives us good things. But there is a difference for believers. Non-believers can have good things, but they’re just things. They’re temporary. Believers get prosperity while we are on earth (physical, spiritual, and financial. The whole picture.) and riches in heaven. In heaven is our reward. In fact, our natural world prosperity is tied to our spiritual prosperity. We cannot have anything in the natural if we don’t have something in the spiritual. We prosper here as our spirit prospers. Since the Lord is all about fellowship and relationship and us getting close to Him, that is a pretty good deal.

What do non-believers get? They have access to the best that the earth has to offer. That’s it. After death, they get the worm. In Isaiah 66:24 the Lord is speaking of what will come and He says: “They will go out, and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

I’m not always happy at how people that don’t appear all that nice seem to have wealth, power, and no problems. But when I think about it, I would rather not have their level of wealth and be secure in my eternal reward. But remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” The Lord doesn’t wish us to suffer in poverty. Jesus certainly didn’t. He and all His disciples always had food, always had decent clothes, had homes to live in (Jesus’ house was in Capernaum), and gave so much money to the poor that when Judas fled right after Jesus talked about one of the disciples betraying Him they all assumed that he was going to give alms. They had boats available to them whenever they wanted. Several of the disciples had been businessmen before being called WITH their own resources and assets. These aren’t poor people. Remember more than 12 followed Jesus. Over seventy followed Jesus — but the twelve were closest and constant companions.

Why would God want us to have less than Jesus did here on earth? Jesus had few if any material wants. Jesus had all of His needs met. Jesus had money to give away and to take care of His followers. We can have all that. Remember though, He was persecuted for His stance on God. There were those who hated Him and went out of their way to cause Him trouble. Jesus promised us that if we follow the path of Righteousness by abiding in Jesus and walking in His way, the enemies of God will persecute us for Jesus’ sake (Matthew 5:10-12). We will be attacked by the enemy trying to steal what God has given us. We will be buffeted and storms will rage around us. It will NOT be easy sailing, said Jesus (Romans 8:17). But He also said He would always be with us (Hebrews 13:8). Never leave us. Equip us (2 Timothy 3:17), empower us (Colossians 1:11), anoint us (1 John 2:18-29), and give us all we need to gain a spiritual, eternal victory in Him (2 Corinthians 2:14) — that doesn’t always look like victory to the world (Revelation 12:11). Isn’t that worth it though? In every way possible, prosperity and success. When persecuted, hated, and attacked because we abide in Jesus, we get true riches and rewards in heaven too.

That’s win-win.

God wants you to succeed. God wants you well and healthy. God wants you to prosper in every way possible. The Word says so. He wants you to start with your spirit and keep that focus. To seek Him and the Kingdom first and foremost (Matthew 6:33). Jesus said it. Believe it. Abide in Him. Receive it. If He wants sinners to have good things, how much more does He want good things for those who love on Him?

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Psalm 89

This is a beautiful Psalm. Especially in the Passion Translation. It’s called a forever-song. It talks of God’s love, mercy, faithfulness, and promises. It’s full of praise to the Lord. It’s a beautiful two-way street of love. Read it out loud. Sing it (pick a tune). The more you read the Word and praise God, the more you love the Lord. The Lord never changes His love attitude. It’s always 1,000% higher, larger, and constant than we can imagine. This is a great Psalm to start giving love back and get closer to Him. Praise Jesus as you read. Make it your song. A song of Jesus’ love for you and your love for Him. A song that reinforces your perspective of God. One that affirms in yourself who God is and who you are. Think of it as slipping your hand into His as you go for a walk together in the cool of the day.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.