Fear Not
By Emil C. Liko

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed… (Matthew 24:6)."
Our world is changing on what seems like a daily basis. For the second time, first on December 7, 1941, then on September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked upon our own soil. Now we hear daily reports of impending war with Iraq, of nuclear bombs that can reach our west coast, and of possible chemical warfare against us.

We are in a time where personal safety and the security of our nation are threatened, casting a dark shadow upon most people's outlook. A factor of fear has entered our nation. "For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings pour out like water. For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me. And what I have dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes (Job 3:24-26)."

History has proven that people are most open to God during times of fear and tragedy. Now is the greatest time for our faith to shine. "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (John 4:4)."

Charles Colson writes, "If Christianity is true-then it cannot be simply a file drawer in our crowded lives. It must be the central truth from which all our behavior, relationships, and philosophy flows." As Christians, we should react to things differently than the world around us because of our trust in a sovereign God and our confidence in spending eternity with Him. If we are at peace in the midst of chaos, people are going to start noticing, wondering where our strength, our assurance comes from… why aren't we afraid? Now is not the time for Christians to be silent; it is the time to speak with authority like Jesus did. "The people were amazed at His teaching…He taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law (Mark 1:22)."

Jesus said, "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock." (Luke 6:47-48).

God is our foundation and He is our rock. In times like these, we become the bridge to help unbelievers take their eyes off of their fears and turn them to the only One who can give them peace in the midst of the storm. Our advice to them is, as the song says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

I am not saying Christians do not have fears or concerns, but we have Someone who can ease our anxieties, tell us the truth, and give us reassurance. As Psalm 23 says, "…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me..." Our Shepherd is not intimidated by any person or circumstance.
Our assurance is not the doom and gloom of the world; our assurance is knowing where we're going when we leave this world. And that's what we have to convey to those who do not know Jesus.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My victorious right hand (Isaiah 41:10).