Fear No Fear

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

For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
Ephesians 2:14-16 (emphasis added)

This isn’t even a promise. This is a fact. The truth. Not a truth. Truth. The Lord God Almighty. The one whose nature we debate. Whose existence itself we debate. This One who made the universe. The One who made all that we see and all that we do not see. This Living One. He IS our peace. It doesn’t say that He brings it to us. It doesn’t say that He will make it in us. It doesn’t say that it will come to us. It doesn’t say we will earn it or even that we will be granted it in Grace. It says very clearly that He IS our peace. If you want peace, He is it. You don’t get it, earn it, make it, develop it, seize it, receive it, worship it, or anything else. God IS our peace. In Him we have it. Outside of Him we do not. Black and white. Binary. No other options.

Who doesn’t want peace? Fear sucks. It really does. Who wants to have thoughts that torment them? Daydreamy images that bring fear. Rememberings that keep us up at night. That brings tears to our eyes. Or feelings. Terrible feelings. Embarrassment, shame, anger, sorrow. Jumping at every sound and just waiting for the horror to arrive at our bedside to start the ordeal. Who wants that? Who likes to live that way? No one. Everything can be fun and games until we are alone in the dark with no one who can hear us or see us and then it is a whole other ball game. Then it is anxiety, depression, and terror. Who wants that?

The other side of that coin is peace. Who doesn’t want peace? Peace is contentment, harmony, freedom from hostility, freedom from oppressive thoughts and feelings, and tranquility. It’s what we all search after. It is the dream. We look for it financially. We look for that high paying job. We look for the lottery win. The big score. The killer deal. So that we’ll have money. To buy food, get a place to live, a vehicle to drive, to afford vacations and travel. To get those things we want without worry or struggle. To wear nice things. To have a house we’re comfortable in and proud of because it has all those little knickknacks we enjoy having around us.

We look for it in our relationships. Trying to find someone who won’t betray us. Who won’t cheat on us. Who won’t blab about those things we say when we’re alone. Those deepest thoughts. The silly things we like to do. The way we are in private. The really real inner you that you share with no one else. All walls down. All weapons put away. The one who lets you be the way you are without seeking to change you or alter you. The peace of that kind of acceptance. The knowledge that nothing you can do can cause a problem between you. Total acceptance. Epics have been created about finding this kind of peace. It is a longing in all of us in one way or another. This has nothing to do with sex. It is about the peace that comes from finding a person on this earth that you can trust with the you that you are.

We look for it in where we live. We all have dreams and ideas about the perfect house. How big it is, what it looks like, what’s in it, what we can do with and in the spaces it provides. But we would be thrilled and happy to have a place that is simply stable. Somewhere we don’t need to worry if every knock on the door is the landlord to evict us. That we won’t wake up unable to pay the bill. That it is in reasonable shape. We’re not dealing with mould, drips, cracks, rot, or warps. That the windows and doors both keep out the elements and provide a modicum of safety.

Hollywood was based on the idea of gaining peace. Saving the day, saving the relationship, saving the neighbourhood, saving the galaxy or even the universe. Getting the dream girl (or boy). Winning the big game. Passing the test. The dog saving the boy. The farm doesn’t get sold to creditors. The little puppet saves their pals. The diamond is returned. I could go on for days and days. It is the main thrust of many of our imaginings. Getting, achieving, or saving the thing that will give us the happy ever after. Franchises of sequels are built on the idea of achieving the goal in production number one, and after that keeping it. Maintaining it. Remaining in it.

Every culture on this earth has a version of it. A way that you are supposed to achieve it. For some it is consumer based. You are working to attain the funds to buy the things that will enable you to relax and therefore attain peace. In others you’re giving up materialism and realising the oneness of all things to attain peace. Perhaps you will be called to rest on your honour and gain peace knowing that you are honourable. There are as many paths to follow as there are people. Each and every one predicated on the idea that peace exists. It is out there. And we can get to it.

Well, peace is out there. And in here. And over there. It is everywhere for it IS God and God is everywhere. There are no special instructions. No hard to follow directions. It is simple, basic, and for everyone who is a human being. Abide in Jesus, have peace. Done. That’s it. God IS peace. Therefore, when we are in Him we have peace. It’s right there. You don’t even need to reach out for it. It is simply there when our eyes and minds are on Him. Because at its core peace is about trust, and the Lord God can be trusted absolutely. We believe in Jesus. We say He is our Lord. We are saved. We can trust what He says. We can give Him our cares and then He has them. If we believe that, we will have peace. Because He is God and He is good for what He says.

He says our needs will be met (Philippians 4:19). He will feed us (Exodus 16:8). He will clothe us (Genesis 3:21). He assures us we are saved (Isaiah 61:10). He will guide us (Psalm 32:8). He will protect us (Psalm 3:3). He will prosper us (Nehemiah 2:20). He will lift us up (Ezekiel 3:12). He is our all in all (Colossians 3:11). Yahweh is all these things to us and for us. This is who He IS. How do we get it for ourselves? We don’t. He graces us with it. We don’t deserve it. He gives it to His children anyway.

“You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting Rock” (Isaiah 6:3-4). All of that other stuff we get by Grace. Peace we get by putting our trust in the Lord. When we trust in Him, we will have peace. We need to keep our eyes on Him. We need to keep our thoughts on Him. The Word is our tool, helper, and friend in this. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, teacher, and guide in this. Together, they help us to stay on the Lord because the Word renews us to the things of God and the Holy Spirit brings to mind all that we have heard. This isn’t a pebble. It isn’t a gravel drive or footpath. This isn’t a canyon being worn away little by little. This is an eternal Rock of Truth that never moves, never shrinks, always grows, is always steady, always there, immovable, indestructible, eternal, and set aside for us. FOR US. There is a spot reserved there for you.

“In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). Jesus said this. And it could very well be literal — I am in no way saying we don’t have a physical dwelling in the Kingdom waiting for us. The King James translates homes as a mansion prepared for you. But the Word means many things at the same time. Jesus spoke in the literal and the allegorical — sometimes at the same time. In Greek the word translated homes or mansion is monai. In Hebrew it is Anova. They both can refer to a habitation like a small house or a tent. Nothing particularly extravagant. But they also can mean a place of habitation in one’s heart. Now in the practise of the day, when you were betrothed you were as if you were married but the marriage wasn’t consummated. For a year you were husband and wife in all but a physical relationship. Now I have heard it said the girl lived in her father’s house and also that they lived together but apart. Having learned more about Jewish customs and rules for living righteously, I now favour her living at her Father’s house. But the point is that for a year they were not intimate. During this time the bridegroom built an addition to his home. This addition would be the room to which he would take the bride to consummate the marriage.

When we are born again, resurrected from our dead spirits into Jesus’ eternal spirit we are sealed and set apart as His bride (Revelation 21:9-11 and Ephesians 11:2). As such, Jesus ascended into heaven when He was resurrected to prepare our place. Our room. Our habitation in the Kingdom where we will join with Him in all ways being finally sanctified in entirety and pure before the Father. So where do we live in the meantime? In the Father’s house of course. Jewish Law and living practises are a shadow of what our relationship with God is supposed to be. We can’t live in heaven literally while still being here, so where are we to be? In the Father’s heart. Until we arrive in heaven as the Bride of the Anointed One, we are to live in the Father’s heart. We do that by abiding in Jesus for it is only in Jesus, by Jesus, and through Jesus that we can stand before the Father and inhabit His heart. He is righteous and only by being righteous can we be with Him. We are NOT righteous and can only stand in that state by being in Jesus. It is what we are called to do and how we are to live.

Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law. The Law was satisfied and perfected in Jesus. Now instead of looking to the Law as the standard for our righteous living, we are to look to Jesus. Jesus IS the Word. The Law IS the Word. It is all in Jesus. All sacrifices attained. All sin washed away. All repentance possible. In Him we can break our pride, arrogance, and Self. We can pick up what He freely offers by Faith through Grace. And in that faith He gave us we are able to choose the Lord every time, every day, in everything. Jesus is the eternal living sacrifice, the door by which we enter the presence of the Lord. The ONLY way in. No other exists. None other is possible. Doesn’t matter how nice you are, what rules you follow, or how you feel. Jesus is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. He is the path by which we enter the Father’s heart and remain there.

Abide in Jesus. Live in the Father’s heart. Live in His peace. Don’t work for it. Don’t seek it. It is right there inside you. Accept it, believe it, receive it, and then stay there. Use the Word on yourself. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Obey the Father. Enjoy the peace that IS God. Your inheritance as a child of the Most High Merciful Almighty God. All things reconciled in our bodies by Jesus, in Jesus, through Jesus, for the Father. Why would anyone want anything else than the perfect Peace of His perfect Love?

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: 1 Peter 5:6-7

One of my favourite memories is sitting on a couch in the TV room. I think I was reading at the time, I’m not sure. There was an explosion of little footfalls. My three year old burst into the room, launched himself on the couch, threw the toy that was in his hands behind the couch, and then raced from the room as fast as he could. Moments later from the main room I heard the older sibling calling out “Where is it?” and the little responding (truthfully) “I don’t have it”. He had wanted that toy and knew that he couldn’t keep it, so he cast it into a hiding place to keep it safe and out of everyone’s hands. Later I moved the couch and found half a bucket of toys that had been stashed there. I really enjoy that. Since then I’ve paid attention and every child I’ve had has a special hidey spot where favourite toys get stashed — regardless of actual ownership. I go there myself when I’m searching for things they’ve shown interest in. Peter calls all believers to be the same way. Let Jesus be your favourite spot to cast your cares. When you feel the world or the enemy rising up to make you feel pressure, worry, anxiety, depression, or any other negative thing; run as fast as your spiritual legs let you. Throw that stuff onto Jesus’ lap and then cheese it. When the world or the enemy arrives and demands to know why you aren’t worried, fearful, anxious, or whatever; honestly say that you don’t have those thoughts anymore. They aren’t yours. You CAN’T have them. Anytime your brain reminds you of ANYTHING that you’ve put into Jesus’ lap, remind yourself that Nope. That’s not mine anymore. Go see Jesus. Once a day. Twice a day. Fifty times an hour. Frequency doesn’t matter. Intensity doesn’t matter. All that matters is that Jesus has it. You don’t. You don’t need it. You only need to listen to Jesus on it. He’ll tell you: I have it. You’re good. When Jesus has your cares, you’re free to listen in prayerful worship to the Father. You’ll hear His voice, hear His plan, and have the opportunity to obedience your way to victory in Him. That’s the great thing about casting. It helps us stay humble and broken, admitting and relying on the fact that we can’t do it but He already has. Why worry? Why fear? We have peace in Him because He IS peace.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.