I recently heard of World War II veteran who spent the night on a burning ship in the Pacific. All he could do was face the fire, and fear the ships destruction, or face the darkness and wonder what was out there. When he told his grandson the story, the boy asked: Grandpa were you scared? I was so scared, that I have never been afraid of anything since. What if you could be so scared, that you would never be afraid again? What if all fear could be eliminated from your life forever? All fear of opinion, fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of poverty, how would you live if all of them were gone?
Jesus tells us just how to live this way. Notice the great irony in this text:
1. Do not fear man.
2. Do fear God – emphatically fear him
3. Fear not little flock.
I believe this text teaches us that if we fear God rightly and truly, then we will never be afraid of anything else.
What does it mean to fear God?
1. Always mentioned in context of keeping the Law – After the Israelites received the 10 Commandments, God responded by saying – “Oh that they would fear me and keep my commandments – then things would go well with them and their children forever.”
2. Response to seeing God
Isaiah fell to the ground saying woe is me, for I am undone.
John fell at the feet of the Lord as though dead.
Fear is a holistic response to suddenly realizing that God is real, personal and interested in your life. Your mind realizes his immensity and power. Your conscience feels its guilt and shame. Your emotions shudder in remorse and dread, and your body responds with a quickened pulse, and sometimes ever the failure of your joints.
You are in the presence of the uncontrollable, infinite, holy, just God.
This fear, when properly exercised leads us to turn away from our sin, and receive the gift of Christ. In him we live a life of security, joy and peace.
Fear is the beginning of wisdom, but it leads us to a place where God’s perfect love casts out all fear. Once we are intimate with him, we never fear again.
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