FEAR

Today is Halloween in the United States. This has to be my least favorite holiday and/or tradition.  Some people love to scare people with crazy costumes and abnormal behavior. Others love to give out candy to strangers dressed up in costume. There are images of carved pumpkins, spiders, snakes, rats, ghosts, etc… that make up part of this “holiday”.  There will be more scary movies watched today than normal.  I’m not a fan of fear. I simply don’t like to go to a movie that will scare the bejeebies out of me. I have heard that a certain amount of fear is a good thing. Fear helps me watch out for snakes when I’m in the woods. Fear keeps me from playing with a hornet’s nest too.  Check out what Isaiah has to say about fearing judgment…..

 6 Cry, because the Lord’s day of judging is near;

       the Almighty is sending destruction.

 7 People will be weak with fear,

       and their courage will melt away.

 8 Everyone will be afraid.

       Pain and hurt will grab them;

       they will hurt like a woman giving birth to a baby.

    They will look at each other in fear,

       with their faces red like fire. (Isaiah 13:6-8 NCV)

 I think some amounts of fear is probably pretty healthy. I do have a “fear of the Lord”. I think that particular fear is also known as: “respect and reverence”. I know of the Lord’s Power and His Might. I believe that He is Who He says He is. I believe that He hates my sin, but loves me. I believe that if it weren’t for the GRACE that Christ delivered with His sinless life and sacrificial death – I’d really need to be afraid. My hope is in the Lord Who made a way for me to escape the wrath of a Holy God Who hates sin. I first followed Him out of fear of Hell. I follow Him now because of the peace He provides in the crazy journey called life. He is my Friend, my Counselor and Confidant.  I don’t fear His punishment, because I have His Protection!

 Pressing On!

Dwayne