WHY BE AFRAID OF PEOPLE?

        In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” What if that would actually start to happen? What would life be like if we actually did God’s will just like it is done in heaven?

        In 1991, a bloodless rebellion took place in the streets of Moscow. Russians who had grown up in totalitarianism suddenly declared, “We may be captive to the state, but we will act as if we are free.” So they took to the streets, stared down the threat of death by guns, and acted and spoke as if they were truly free. The result was the leaders cowering inside, fearing the masses outside who were shaking off their chains in freedom. 

        Christian author Philip Yancey wrote of that time, “Watching the newsreels from Red Square, I came up with a new definition of FAITH: It’s paranoia in reverse. A truly paranoid person organizes his or her life around a common perspective of FEAR. Anything that happens feeds that fear.

        “FAITH works in reverse. A faithful person organizes his or her life around a common perspective of TRUST, not fear. Despite the chaos of the moment, God does reign. Regardless of how I may feel, I truly do matter to a God who loves me.”

        We live at a time in history where paranoia is rampant. We fear being condemned publicly for what we say or do. We’re afraid to speak up for what we believe lest someone ridicule or slander us. We believe God is with us and we trust Him, but we fear we’ll be shamed for saying so. 

        Abraham Lincoln had it right when he said, “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”

        Friends, God IS with those who follow His will. He promises us, “I am with you always, to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) Apostle John said, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) Jesus also said, “Never be afraid of those who can kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul! Far better to stand in awe of the one who has the power to destroy body and soul.” (Matthew 10:28) We’re not afraid of God, because He loves us. So why should we fear people?

        What if we really started living God’s will now, here on earth, just as it is being done in heaven? Let’s shed our fears about what’s going on today. Let’s give them to our Savior Jesus who will help us live by FAITH, not by fear. 

Fear destroys, but FAITH gives life.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com