“Are you scared?” I remember when I was a kid, we would ask each other that after a movie or when somebody had offered some threat. “Are you scared?” From time to time it is good to think about the sources of our fear. For me, there are many. You? Fear is really registered in the amygdala in the human brain. When this part of our brain (which reptiles also have) kicks in, our reasoning ability is seriously hampered. We fight, or freeze or flee.
Someone has said the second greatest fear is dying. First? Public speaking. In other words, some people would rather be the one in the coffin than have to speak at the funeral. Surely not. Jesus told people not to fear those who can kill the body but not the soul. For believers, death is a short sleep which leads to the presence of the Lord. Nevertheless, most Christians I know would like to postpone our appointment with death.
Jesus said we should instead fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. We may think he is talking about the devil. He is really talking about God. God creates and sustains life. He offers us eternal life through Christ. If we choose to reject that life we will spend eternity separated from God. Like John Knox we can live life intrepidly because we fear God so much, we fear no one else. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. May God give us a holy reverence for him and his name today.
Our trust in Christ removes all of our terror. No wonder when Jesus came to earth he said, “Fear not . . .” Someone said, “Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered the door. No one was there!”
