Fear No Fear

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

“So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire, and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”
(1 Chronicles 10:13-14)

“Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion,
    which can’t be moved, but remains forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more.
For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous,
    so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil.
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good,
    to those who are upright in their hearts.
But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways,
    Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity.
Peace be on Israel.”
(Psalm 125)

“Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
(Luke 12:1-5)

Saul was a bit of a hypocrite. Said one thing, did another. He let the pressure of other people’s expectations and the fear of losing their admiration lead him off the path and into the weeds. He didn’t fully obey (which is disobedience). He delayed (which is disobedience). And he rested on human understanding instead of asking God – as His servant and the example of godly leadership for the country – what God wanted in a given situation. Saul was a very flesh-driven king. He wasn’t immoral, but he did not revere or trust in the Lord in many places of his life.

It is not the Lord who changes. It is us. Our attitudes. Our decisions. Where we put OUR trust and belief. This is what determines what happens around us and to us in relation to God. God is loving, merciful, gracious, giving, and wanting to BLESS us. Not in one way, but with an abundant and fully developed life. Do we accept Him? Or do we reject Him? He will give us what we choose. He will honour our decisions. That is what free will is.

What is in our hearts comes out of us through our words, actions, and choices. But the stuff we hide will ALSO come out. Everything will be revealed in the Light of God’s Love. That will not be a positive thing if we’re trying to hide sin and iniquity. It WILL be a positive thing if we are seeking the Lord and working to honour Him. Everything comes out. Hidden things revealed. Secrets told. The truth WILL set us free from the chains of fear and sin. But we need to embrace repentance as a lifestyle. Turning back to God every time we turn away. Not as a license to sin, but as evidence of our continual desire to align with God’s point of view and moral character – making HIS, OURS.

Summary

Our hearts are known by God. Sooner or later, they’ll be known by everyone else as well. God doesn’t deal in secret. God is open and honest and true. Worshipping God and loving God produces the same love of truth in us. No, it’s not always comfortable. But a hidden negative causes a LOT of damage – whether we see its effects or not. Truth, spoken in love, ALWAYS is a positive – even though there can be serious consequences. Walking with God means choosing to walk in truth. Aligning with God’s point of view means accepting His point of view as the only correct one. Regardless of how we ‘feel’. We can retrain our minds and embrace what actually is THE truth.