EVERYBODY HAS A FEAR 

By Raymond F. Bennett 

          Do you remember the old TV. program called “The A team?” B. A., the team’s tough guy, played by Mr. T, could handle most any situation and was afraid of nobody. But he was afraid to fly and had to be drugged to get him on an airplane so they could fly to the site of their mission. On one episode, Hulk Hogan guest starred. In the process of the program, B. A. was surprised to discover that even Hulk Hogan had a fear also.

            That’s the way it is in life. We all have some fear. This writer never learned to swim, despite growing up next to one of the area’s most popular swimming holes. The reason? I never conquered my fear of water. Some people have a fear of heights, but once my cousin and a friend helped me get past that fear, there is no height too high.

            Most fears are really ungrounded. We are pessimists by nature. We are afraid that something about whatever we are asked to face will hurt us and/or restrict the ‘pleasures’ and freedoms we currently enjoy, when in reality we would be better off, have more freedoms and greater pleasures if we weren’t afraid to look into whatever it is we fear.

            That’s the way if was with Israel when they were led out of the bondage of Egypt and into a promised land of their own. They had been crying for more freedom than they had under Egypt, but when faced with the responsibilities of freedom, they complained, preferring the leeks, garlics and cucumbers of Egypt, forgetting the horrible oppression they were under.

When given the opportunity to gain a great victory, they looked at the giants, forgot the promises of God, and the experienced deliverance of God, and refused God’s leading. The result was that that entire generation missed out on the promised land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, the only ones who were not afraid to follow God’s leading and trust God’s promises.

            Many, today, are afraid to trust God’s Word, even afraid to read or listen to God’s word. When turning on the radio, they quickly switch away from a station that even appears to be a “Christian” station. Many stations and Christian organizations attempt to alleviate those fears by trying to be like the worldly stations, but those they think they are reaching are really too smart for them because they know that real Christians are supposed to be different from the world. To these, the disguise either doesn’t fool them into listening to the gospel, or merely offers a disguise they can use themselves to make their sin more respectable.

            I submit 4 reasons why so many are afraid of the gospel message and the Bible. See if any of these are your fears.

            1. If we accept the Bible account of creation as true, we are forced to also accept an intelligent Creator, as opposed to some abstract ‘force.’ Such a Creator would logically have a plan and purpose for His creation that the created beings would be expected to fit unto. This makes God the Sovereign and ultimate Ruler and robs us of our desired full freedom to do and act as we think best.

            2. If we listen the Word of God we are forced to consider the changes it requires in our life styles. Like the 1^st generation Israelis, we want freedom from death and sin and assurance of Heaven, but without any associated responsibilities.

            3. If we are seen to be Bible readers, our friends might call us “goody goodies” or consider us soft. Some claim that religion in general, and Christianity in particular, is a crutch, for those who need one, but “I don’t need one.”

            4. Adherence to Bible standards, or even belief without advocating the associated standards, is seen as bigotry, because we want to think that any way is as good as another. The pure illogic should shout at us. If any way is equally right, then there is no need for law and order, or even religion. Let the Hitlers, the Bin Ladins, the Baby-faced Nelsons alone. Their way is just as good as ours. After all, if they give to the poor, their way is alright. Let the alcoholic continue in his booze. Doesn’t God love everybody? Surely, a God of love wouldn’t punish someone for a ‘disease’ modern medicine can’t cure.

            No habit can be conquered unless the person wants to ‘kick the habit.’ We don’t want to admit that our way isn’t the way that leads to Heaven. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).

            These things are not said in judgment or pride. They are said in loving concern. We rightly fear the judgment of God. God’s Word reveals those sins which prevent entrance into the promised land, i.e. eternal life in the presence and blessing of Jesus Christ. The alternative is Hell. There is no easy way to express it.

            We like to talk about God’s great love. It is God’s love that brings us the very message we run from. It is His love and grace that reveals the message of salvation, that Jesus Christ died to save lost sinners. I cite two verses. Please take heed.

            “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die” (Ezek. 33:11).

            “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12).

            If I had a sure, painless and free cure for cancer that only involved that you believe it, trust it, and hence forth no longer do the things that caused the cancer, would you be afraid of the message? Would you rather continue in the life style and habits that brought the cancer, and therefore reject the cure? If I had a sure, painless and free  cure for heart disease, would you run from the cure? Would you rather continue in the life style and diet that caused it?

            I doubt it in both cases. So why run from the gospel? The cure for sin is painless and costless for you, but it cost Jesus Christ dearly. He died because He loved His own who had become lost, “dead in trespasses and sin.”

          “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).