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| An entire class of ships got their names from the lead vessel whose name comes from "Trust in God and Dread Naught" |
. . . the word of the
LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy
shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Gen
15:1)
In contemporary parlance, fear is considered a great negative; but fear is
great positive in preserving our lives from danger and threat. If a child has
ever stuck his finger to the surface of a hot stove, he will fear to do so
again preventing further, and perhaps greater, injury in future. Our first
meaningful thought of God is one of fear, for it is that fear that forces us to
look upon our own unworthiness and His utter righteousness. We fear Him and are
relieved to know that He loves those who call upon His and that He is
forgiving. As the Scripture clearly counsels: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding
have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
(Psalms 111:10) This is reinforced by Solomon: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise
wisdom and instruction. (Prov 1:7) That gnawing and dreadful fear
turns into a different kind of fear once one is reconciled, by the blood of
Christ, to God. It is a fear of disappointing the one who laid down His life
willingly in remission of our sins – not a mortal fear of ultimate judgment.
A baby cub bear is a small and fragile little creature. It is fearful of every
other thing that moves. It has a great fear of man. But in at least one
respect, the cub has less fear than a strong and courageous man. The cub bear
is not afraid of Mama Brown Bear, but the strong and courageous man had better
fear her – for she will tear him limb from limb if he gets near her baby. The
cub, no doubt, has a gentle fear of its mother when he gets into things he
shouldn’t for she may roughly swat him away from poisoned mushrooms, or
dangerous trails. But the intruding man fears not that gentle swat – he fears
the mule-strength of the mauling paws of the bear that can take his life in an
instant. If we are true Christians, we only fear God’s disappointments at our
failure to always bear strong testimony of our faith. We fail and falter, but
He is ever ready to pick us up from the mire, dust us off, and set our feet
once more on firm ground. But to the unrepentant sinner, God is a real terror
to be dreaded on the Day of Judgment. Our fear is that of a child who fears
disappointing a loving father, or bringing shame upon his family name.
Christians should remember that the Name of Christ is called upon us (a greater
dignity than we can ever deserve) and we should take care not to besmirch that
Name or drag it through the gutters of life.
Except for Leap Year, there are 365 days in the year. Every one of those days
should be devoted to God in the service and devotion of a Christian. Do you
know how many times God has counseled, in His glorious Word, for us to “FEAR
NOT?” Why, He has spoken that counsel to us exactly 365 times in the
Holy Bible – one for every day of the year! He knows that some are fearful of
the times, of the great wickedness at large in the world; yet, He tells us: Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be
strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a
recompence; he will come and save you. (Isaiah
35:4) In fact, He
already has done so on a Hill called Calvary! It is, of course, one thing to
KNOW God; and yet another to receive Him as Lord, Sovereign, and Savior. For if we sin wilfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for
sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries. (Heb
10:26-27) Even the
devils know and tremble, but they are in rebellion against that Lord that has
restored, forgiven, and stamped His Seal upon the heart of the true believer.
My father once told an old Cherokee story to me when I was a lad that is based
on truth. When an Indian boy of that tribe reached the age of accountability
(about twelve years of age) he underwent an initiation into the tribe as a
warrior. There were several tests of strength and endurance that he must pass
and demonstrate. The most difficult and dreadful was the last test of being
blindfolded and his hands bound behind him on a tree stump in the wilds of the
forest overnight. His feet were not bound. He could run away at any time if he
lost courage. Once so bound, he was left alone in that forest. He trembled to
hear the screech of the panther and the growl of the bear searching for prey.
The wolves howled and barked on the surrounding hills. The dews of the early
morning wet his head, and drowned his courage. After a long night of fearful dread
and intensified heartbeat, suddenly, he could feel the warm light of the
rising sun on his brow, and something else – he could feel something tugging at
his blindfold. What a relief to open his eyes and find that his father had been
sitting there beside him all the night long. He had been as safe as in his
father’s hunting tent. Is this not the fears of a Christian – unfounded
because even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, is He not with us? Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(Psalms 23:4)
I lost a loving, kind, and faithful uncle today (I received the news only
moments ago while composing this devotion) – Mr. Dennis Ogles, Jr. During World War Two, my father was off
fighting for our country in the European Theater. He saw his first enemy action
during the Ardennes Forest Campaign (Battle of the Bulge). I was mighty proud
of my father, but I was also lonely and fearful without the company of a
father-figure. But my uncle, Junior, came often to play with me and strengthen
me during that time. Though he was only a teen-age boy himself during the War,
his presence always made me feel that I was loved and protected. He has been my
hero ever since.
When my uncle stopped by, he would sit me on his knee and
tell me the most interesting stories. He reinforced my early faith in Jesus
Christ. His character was one of the most stainless and Christian I have ever
known. Though he faced the reality of approaching death – he was 86 years of
age at his passing – he was neither fearful nor dreading of that Dark Angel of
Comfort to God’s people. He has taken his Eternal Rest in Christ just three
days before what we ‘Labor Day.’ Uncle Junior’s labors are over. He has
finished his race, and has gone to his Father, and to our Father. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2)
Our Lord and our God always prefaced His personal encounters
with men and women with that comforting counsel, “Fear not! It is I!”
And why should we fear when He is with us in every crisis and every victory of
life?
Just as others of the faith have gone from this life fearing
not, neither should we. We have the hope of the resurrection, and the promise
of God to ward off immoderate fears and dread. So, Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all
your things be done with charity. (1 Cor 16:13-14)
