Why do we fear?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in his 1933 inaugural address, made this famous statement, “There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” He also defined this fear saying, “…fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”

According to his address, Roosevelt blamed greed and shortsightedness of bankers and businessmen. He addressed the daunting issue of unemployment which had reached a staggering 25 percent. Regarding foreign relations he briefly talked about the “policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others.” His speech was peppered with references of passages of Scripture.

            …rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and have abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.

The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of the restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit.

Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing.

...the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.

More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.

Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously.

There are many ways in which it can be helped, but it can never be helped merely by talking about it. We must act and act quickly. Wikipedia

I recently heard a friend say, “I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.” This is such an odd expression, yet most of us know what it means. The expression alludes to a person awakened by a neighbor who loudly dropped one shoe on the floor and is waiting for the second shoe to be dropped. It originated in New York City in the early 1900’s.

Where did fear originate? And why do we expect the worst? Are we just paranoid for no good reason?

Fear is first mentioned in Chapter 3 of Genesis after the Fall of man. God gave Adam and Eve one command to obey. Scene 1: Living in an unfallen world, a Garden of Paradise, heaven on earth…Adam and Eve knew life as God had intended it to be. Scene 2: Enter the crafty serpent, Satan himself. Intending to cast doubt upon the veracity of God’s word, he says, “Indeed, has God said…” The woman misquotes what God had told them. Problem number one. We must know the truth if we are not to give into temptation to doubt which leads to fear. Satan has the hook in her mouth, and he gives it a good tug. “You surely will not die!” Before this time, the man and woman only knew the goodness of God, not evil. You know the rest of the story of how Satan got the man and woman to believe his lies over God’s truth. We know that the result was that their eyes were opened, and they knew they were naked, so immediately they purpose to hide themselves from God. Fear enters their very souls—fear of their Creator, the One with whom they had shared intimate fellowship, the One who loved them supremely. But it was not a right fear, or they would have run to Him instead of from Him. Scene 3: They hear God walking in the garden, and they seek refuge in the creation rather than the Creator. They try to hide themselves from God’s presence.

We live in a fallen world, not one of fairy tales and happily ever after. But that’s what we have come to expect, to believe we somehow deserve. Unfortunately, this same mentality has entered the church with the false self-esteem gospel. Why are unbelievers and believers alike living in fear right now? Because they are focused on the other shoe to be dropped on them. The reality that we all know deep down is that bad things do happen to “good” people. What we don’t all know is that all people are not “good”. Believers who are living in fear are even worse off than unbelievers because they are trying to walk with one foot in the world and one foot in the heavenlies. It’s not possible to walk aright maintaining this stance.

Jesus said in John 16:33—These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

My grandparents grew up in a very different world than I did. I’m often amazed when I think how dramatically the world has changed in the last 100-120 years. If they were alive today, during this corona virus pandemic, I have no doubt they would not be living in fear. Why? They had experienced so many hardships and knew of God’s faithfulness to them in every storm. They were humble, kind, and giving people. They had a work ethic that far surpassed that of most in our generation. And, they appreciated every blessing of God the same, whether small or big. They didn’t take people or life for granted. They didn’t kill babies in the womb and call it their right. They didn’t climb the corporate ladder and tramp on anyone who got in their way. Their focus was to love God with all their hearts and their neighbor as themselves. They knew the fulfillment of abundant life was found in those two commands.

In contrast, the world today (and much of the visible church on earth) is proud, rude, and greedy. Our generation is entitled, unloving and self-centered. We take people and blessings for granted until God blesses us by pulling the rug out from under our feet. What is your perspective on this pandemic? Is it a blessing or judgment? I say it is both, and we had better get our vision focused where it needs to be. Judgment is coming…far more severe judgment on this earth than what we are experiencing now.

The Lord says in Isaiah 45:7 that He is the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity. He is the LORD who does all these. What that means to me is that I must fear God alone as the Sovereign ruler over all this earth! He is my Father, and because I know Him as such, the fact of that Scripture causes me to lovingly worship Him for who He is.

The one who does not fear God fears all that is happening around him. What we fear reveals our hearts. We always fear loss of some sort—whether its economic loss, loss of status, or loss of life due to disease or tragedy. Ultimately, we fear losing control. News flash—WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL! We never were.

2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. If fear is not from God, then we should have nothing to do with it. Is this current crisis a gift from God or a judgment? You decide. Anything that comes into my life that causes me to trust Him, to fear Him alone, is a gift. 1 Peter 4:17-19—For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

The world attempts to entice unbelievers and believers alike with a multitude of different sparkling, idolatrous trinkets offering us a false sense of contentment and satisfaction in this world that will give us all our fairy tale ending. This is a lie that appeals only to our flesh. The truth is that the eternal life we seek is only found in Jesus Christ. For the believer, this world is not our home. We need to stop clutching onto it in the fear of losing it as if it were.  Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace shall lead me home.