| GOD and US |
| Love Displaces Fear |
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| A Reality Check |
| Love Displaces Fear |
| Planes full of civilians hijacked
and turned into cruise missles against everyday work places.
Biologic agent terroism. Dirty bombs, chemical attacks,
poisoned watersupplies, or other crippling damage to our
infrastructure. Anxiety about just how and where the next
attack will come. Terror. Apprehension.
FEAR. Yes, since September 11, 2001 we in the U.S. and those in other countries have known fear in ways we have not previously. We're apprehensive about the future. Certainly for some it's the greatest fear of our lives. We fear death. We fear injury. We fear pain. We fear that our loved ones will be killed or hurt. The uncertainty of terrorist acivities heightens our fears. As humans we tend to fear the unknown. (Part of the reason it's important for soldiers to know their enemy is to eliminate as much fear of the unknown as possible.) The Biblical book of 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,..." Well, God is perfect love. He fears nothing. He loves all men and women. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:44-45 "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." The Kingdom of God in its ultimate fullness will be a place of love, care, and concern from all, for all. No one will seek to kill, hurt, or take from any other. Actually, it will be the opposite. People will seek opportunities to enhance each other's existence -- to love and serve each other, for that is the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. He came to Earth the first time to demonstrate that God is love. Interestingly in announcing that coming the angel said to Mary, "Fear not," and the angel's first words to the shepherds near the stable where Christ was born were, "Fear not!" Jesus, the personification of love casts out fear. He came to show the depth of God's love for us and ultimately He will be Lord of Lords and King of Kings of a world of safety, peace, security, and comfort. How much of that future Kingdom can be applied now? That's the challenge before us. Our goal should always be to approach that Kingdom life as closely as possible even in this world. We can find out as much as we can about our enemies -- know them. We can pray for our enemies. The first thing that does is change our hearts. We can pray that God will change our enemy. God can change an enemy's heart. The Apostle Paul killed Christians until God turned him around to be an incredibly effective tool for Him. God's basic instruction for warfare was, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." We can love our enemies -- seek to meet their deepest needs. Even in the midst of our struggle we can do much to alleviate civilian suffering and plan to help rebuild when hostilities are over. In the final analysis it is the perfect love from God that displaces fear. |
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