What is your greatest fear?
Many of us could list all kinds of different fears that we experience. Some of us are afraid of heights. Others are afraid of the dark. Still others are afraid of clowns. But when it comes down to it I think many of us would say that our greatest fear is our fear of death.
I’ve been consistently reading the words of Jesus for about twenty years now, yet He never ceases to surprise me with what He says. He is always more radical than I give Him credit for. He is no different when it comes to this topic of fear. Speaking at one point to His followers about the suffering and persecution they would experience as a result of following Him, He says,
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” – Matthew 10:28
In this statement Jesus sets up a contrast and, in so doing, re-arranges our fears – “Do not be afraid … Rather, be afraid”. Those who might be able to kill the body – the greatest fear for many of us – are actually only able to do so much. Therefore, Jesus’ followers are not to fear them. There is One who is far greater and far more powerful, and therefore He is the one to be feared. Our greatest fear then ought not be death but rather the judgement exercised by this One after death. As another part of the Bible puts it,
“… man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement” – Hebrews Chapter 9 verse 27
If you fear death you have set your sights too low and may have forgotten the judgement that each one of us faces.
But what if the One handing out the judgement turns out to also be the Rescuer? What if the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell desires rather to put His own life on the line to ensure that heaven is our alternate destination? What if the judgement deserved by us was taken by Another in His death so that life forever might be ours?
The Bible tells us that all this, and more, is true. Which means that, as He continues speaking to His followers, Jesus can assure them that this great and powerful figure who rightly ought to be feared is also the very same Father God who casts out fear.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” – Matthew Chapter 10 verses 29-31
How might knowing this re-arrange and even replace some of your fears today?