Saturday, April 21, 2018
Revelation 1:17-18 Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
NO FEAR
We have all seen the t-shirts that say "No Fear." Those who display this message apparently intend to say that they have no fear of the things that ordinarily cause fear in others.
But the ungodly are foolish when they profess no fear of death or of divine judgment. This is true of those who scoff at the judgment and of those who look for something good beyond this life apart from the Savior Jesus Christ. Without Christ one should fear death and judgment. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).
On the other hand, God offers freedom from our worst fears. We don't have to be afraid of death because Jesus has removed death's sting. We don't have to be afraid of divine judgment because Jesus suffered the wrath of God for our sins.
The proof that the cause of our fears has really been removed is the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection after suffering and dying for our sins was God's public announcement that He had accepted the sacrifice that His Son offered.
The resurrection of Jesus declares that our sins are forgiven, that death has lost its sting, that we are at peace with God. Jesus intends that His resurrection should take away our fears.
When the risen and glorified Christ appeared to John in Revelation He said: "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore."
With the cause of our worst fears removed by Jesus, we can deal with all our lesser fears by trusting in God, whose children we have become through faith in Jesus Christ.
Our trust in God is not perfect, so lots of things scare us. But when we are afraid, we have God's own Word to drive away our fears, assuring us of our salvation and of the heavenly Father's abiding love and protection.
-- From the "Lutheran Spokesman"
