Isaiah 8:12 “Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.

This verse really jumped out as I was reading just now. The world seems so governed by fear, and it’s certainly not the fear of the Lord. The most glaring recent example is all that was done in relation to the pandemic, but there are virtually countless other “fear triggers” that are in play. The next verse here says clearly that we are to fear God, but all other controlling fears are demonic, and not appropriate for the believer at all. Fear itself isn’t bad. Various fears give us discretion in our daily living and protect us from all sorts of real dangers. If we were totally fearless, we indeed wouldn’t fear the wrath of our Creator, and that’s the most dangerous attitude of all. Sadly, many people seem to lack that fear, even while they fear various other things. It is only when we recognize God for Who He is, that is, our almighty Creator, without whose grace we would dissolve into atoms, that we can likewise recognize His love for us, and love Him in return. As John wrote, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) Proverbs 29:25 came up in our readings just a few days ago: “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” However, we fear all sorts of other things as well, and unscrupulous men manipulate those fears to control us, because control is what they lust after. We need to be secure in the love of God and stand firmly against all the fear that is thrown our way. For the believer, death is graduation, birth into eternity, and something to be anticipated rather than feared. When that is ingrained in our spirit, all other fears fade into insignificance.

This is something that I have felt more and more strongly over the years. I have no love of pain and disease, but I don’t particularly fear them because I know they are entirely temporary. At the moment my left side is sore because of having tripped and fallen a few days ago, but that doesn’t make me fear walking. I caught COVID back in March and the high fever wasn’t enjoyable, but I knew it was temporary, just as my current soreness is. For that matter, living in this world has all sorts of unpleasant details, just as Jesus said, (John 16:33) but none of them are forever. Why should I fear? My current biggest fear is of losing my wife to one of her assorted diseases, but I have great assurance that even then, God’s grace will be sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9) The blessings, the glory, that are in Christ are more than enough to counter any fear I might dream up. That is a blessed situation indeed, and I want to share it with as many as possible.

Father, thank You indeed for Your love that casts out all fear. Help me share that love with everyone I encounter, making full use of every opportunity, so that as many as will may repent and believe for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!