2025 Archives

  In his first inaugural address, on March 4, 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a statement that is often quoted today.  He said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  Of course his statement had a historical context: The Great Depression (1929-1939) and the ominous Second War of the World (1939-1945).  While the President’s comments were a spark of hope in the hearts of many who suffered through those days, they obviously were not intended to be applied equally to every aspect of life.

   Fear is a natural human emotion, and biblically speaking, there is a time to fear, or perhaps I should say a mental and spiritual state in which fear is a great motivator to flee to God.  The second verse of Amazing Grace (an old and beloved hymn) makes reference to the grace that produces this necessary fear, and, its subsequent relief.  “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed.”  So, you might ask, When should I fear, and when should my fears be dispelled?  …and what is this power that is able to dispel fear?

  Simply stated, you should fear a life without God, infected by sin and unbelief.  “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)”  Why fear?  Because God is holy and just, and must condemn sin and unbelief.  “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries . . . It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (vv. 10:26-27, 31)”

  But that same God, because of His great love, is also the means of dispelling all fear.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)”  God’s love for you, and yours for Him, will dispel all fear.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear…” and “We love him, because he first loved us. (1John 4:18a, 19)”

  The word faith is generally pretty close to the top in most people’s vocabulary, but its shades of meaning vary from one conversation to another.  Sometimes faith is used with reference to the tag or label that is ascribed to one’s religion. (e.g. Baptist, Catholic, Mormon, etc.)  But more often, faith is a synonym for trust, confidence, or dependence.  e.g. “I built this bridge and I have faith that it will support my weight.  Just watch, and I’ll prove it!”

  Unfortunately the meaning of faith, as it relates to the Bible and our relationship to God, has been reduced to an oversimplified belief—a mental assent to a historical fact.  The change in meaning was probably fostered by over zealous evangelists in their efforts to convert the masses,  This is extremely unfortunate because the Bible tells us that everything God wants to do for us requires more than a simple belief.  God’s provision and blessing are contingent upon our proper understanding of faith.  “…without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)”  The Bible word “believe” in this verse is stronger than our English word; it means to trust in, place dependence upon.

  A relationship with God begins only after a man understands that he has offended a Holy God, and is condemned by His Justice.  Salvation occurs the moment that a repentant sinner exercises a sincere confidence in, and dependence upon, Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin.  It is possible because Jesus purchased his forgiveness when He died, was buried, and rose from the dead to satisfy God’s justice on the sinner’s behalf.

  Faith unto salvation is only the beginning.  The Bible is filled with promises and provisions that are realized by that same dependence upon the Almighty.  The object of our faith is always God; the substance of our faith is only what He has said.  If you would have faith in God, you will need to understand that, “… faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)”  Very simply, if you don’t read the Bible, you won’t know what to trust Him for.

  The story is told of a rich business man who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat.  He asked the old man…

(Business Man)  “Why aren’t you out there fishing?”

(Fisherman)  “Because I’ve caught enough fish for today.”

(BM)  “Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?”

(F)  “What would I do with them?”

(BM)  “Well, you could earn more money, and buy a better boat so you could go deeper, and catch more fish.  You could purchase nylon nets and catch even more fish, and make more money.  Soon you’d have a fleet of boats and be rich like me.”

(F)  “Then what would I do?”

(BM)  “Well, then you could sit down and enjoy life.”

(F)  …he looked calmly out over the sea, and said,  “What do you think I’m doing now?”

  Some might consider contentment to be synonymous with laziness, but they could actually be as opposite as a virtue and a vice.  Certainly there is never anything praiseworthy about being lazy, but from God’s perspective contentment is a rewarding virtue when practiced with godliness.  “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1Timothy 6:6-8)”  Paul, a godly man who had learned to tame his “wanter,” found it very gratifying to say, “enough.”  He said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)”

  Imagine America without greed.  Imagine rejecting the unrelenting lie imposed on us by the world, the flesh and the devil—that a little more will make us happy.  Imagine having a majority population who would dare once again to embrace our old motto, “In God We Trust.”

   Imagine you are lost in a big city, in an area that is known for violent gang activity.  You stop at a service station to ask for the shortest route to the highway so that you can get back on course and resume your journey.   The attendant points to a road about a block away and says, “That is the shortest route, but you don’t want to go that way, it would be too dangerous this time of day.”  Rather than waste any more time you insist on taking the shortest route, and bid the man farewell.  Before your car door closes, the kind hearted attendant pleads, “Can’t we at least talk about it before you leave?”  He knows that your life will be in grave danger and wants to point out another way, …if you will only pause for a minute to listen.

  This little illustration describes the predicament that thousands of people are facing today.  It is not a particular part of a city that threatens your well being, but a world system, and a debauched human nature that marches in lockstep with the supernatural enemy of your soul, the devil.  The Bible warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1Peter 5:8)”  Many write it off as the fanatical ideas of those who use the Bible and Jesus as an emotional crutch, “because,” they say, “you cannot face the challenges of life without one.”  But Jesus is not a crutch, He is the Son of God—the Savior!  Those of us who are alive to God, and understand what He has revealed of the unseen world through His Word, would plead, with Him, “You are on the road to destruction, but there is another way.  Can’t we at least talk about it?”

  In a message that Jesus delivered on a mountain in Galilee, He told the hundreds who attended, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)”  His point was that most people are on the path to eternal destruction, and relatively few are headed for the bright future that God intended for all.  Even if this all sounds absurd to you, it is too important to take the chance.  Let’s talk about it!

  What was the first sin after creation?  If you think it was Adam and Eve eating of the forbidden fruit, you need to look back a little further.  When Adam sinned, there had already been an open rebellion against God by the “anointed cherub” called Lucifer, or Light Bearer.  He was a created angel of the highest order.  Isaiah describes his sinful pride and fall: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:12-15)”  But before he is cast into eternal Hell, the Bible tells us that he and his cohorts (demons) are determined to be the enemies of our souls.  How so?…

  First, he keeps people from coming to Christ for forgiveness by blinding their minds.  “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Corinthians 4:4)”

  Secondly, he tells lies, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)”

  Thirdly, he disguises himself as someone who is good. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2Corinthians 11:14)”

  There are other evil tactics, but you get the point.  So what should we do?  Is there a way to protect ourselves from the evil one?  Yes, but first you must know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and then, “…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-12)” and  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1Peter 5:8)”