Fear Robs / Hope Gives

It seems like everything I hear on the news is negative, which can create fear in the hearts of those that take in a steady diet of the woes around them. 

Fear robs the joy that we once felt when things were not as bad and out of control as they are now… on the brink of World War III, home invasions, gangs infiltrating America, ongoing homicides, and the list goes on and on.

The world is in dire need of hope and spiritual revival.  Surely, we are in the beginnings of sorrows spoken of in the Bible—the end times.

(Matthew 24:6-8), “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (vs 7) “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” (vs 8) “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

(2 Timothy 3:1-5), “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:” (vs 2) “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” (vs 3) “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” (vs 4) “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” (vs 5) “having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!”

We are amid all of the above.  Fear is a terrible thing to live with.  No-one should have to endure the worrisome trauma that fear brings.  The Bible says that when Christians see these things coming to pass, that we should lift our heads and rejoice, because our redemption draws near.  Christians need not fear.

This phenomenon is known as the second coming of Jesus Christ.  It is referred to as, ‘the rapture’ when all born-again Believers in Christ ascend into heaven to spend eternity with the Lord.

(Luke 21:26-28), “Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (vs 27) “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (vs 28) “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

There can be obvious physical reactions in those that experience fear.  They might have shortness of breath, heart palpitations, shaking, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting.

Fear robs people of peace of mind, thus reducing the vibrance of living an abundant life in Christ the Lord.  I have read in the Bible that perfect love casts out all fear.  I believe this phrase implies when people possess true love or unconditional love within their being, fear diminishes or disappears completely.

Again, I say, Believers need not live in fear.  Jesus is perfect love, who will remove fearfulness and all trepidation when we speak His name.  Jesus will not allow fear to rob Christians of the victory that God imparts to them (gives) after the new-birth-experience (being born-again) when we ask Him to forgive our sins and come into our heart.

God, through Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness, while giving hope of eternal life in heaven.  Jesus becomes our strength, peace, and of course hope.  He is the Prince of Peace!  Jesus gives hope to the weary and faint of heart.

(Romans 15:13), “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

(Jeremiah 29:11), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Fear not only produces physical weaknesses, but spiritual feebleness, because it slowly robs lifegiving freedom to be able to walk circumspectly in a world that is filled with calamity.

When we have hope in our heart, this manifestation encourages us to share this same hope with others.  Hope gives us the power to walk in faith.  Faith, hope, and charity allows us to live a victorious life.  It is the perfect recipe that casts out fear and produces joy, without all the drama that fear brings.

Agape love is the true love that sets people free from the bond of fear.  When we speak the name of Jesus, the spirits of darkness and the evilness of anything anti-Christ, tremble at the mention of His name.  Fear must leave us, because of the omnipotent power (all power) that is in Jesus’ name.

Jesus is our hope who keeps giving and giving.  My father-in-law use to say, “There are givers and takers in the world.”  All good things come from God—the giver, and everything bad comes from Satan—the taker, especially fear, which robs people of happiness.

God is the giver of life and the hope of the world.  God loved every person He created with such sacrificial love that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for our sins.  The gift of life is free to whoever will.

(John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd