HE-BREWS: A Better Blend
Welcome back to our time in the book of Hebrews. We have journeyed all the way through the book and are now exploring verses in the final chapter.
Fear. God knew it was something most humans would battle in the journey of life. It has been said there are over 360 verses in the Bible that deal with fear. Today, I want us to consider this issue of fear and learn how we can overcome it by faith.
I think it is timely that the writer of Hebrews addressed the issue of fear for his readers and for you and me. Recall that the Hebrews Christians were experiencing persecution as a result of their faith in Christ. Their pastor, the author of Hebrews, wanted to reassure them that fear was unnecessary. Two thousand years later, he offers that same reassurance to you and me.
Please read Hebrews 13: 6-9 below.
6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.
Now go back and re-read verses 6 and 8.
What I hope to convince you of today and next week is that because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever there is no need to fear.
Pastor and author Charles Swindoll tells a story that we will use as the launch pad for our study. One evening Swindoll and his wife were keeping a couple of their grandchildren and as grandparents do, they had allowed the children to stay up much later than their regular bedtime. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and one of the children grabbed Swindoll’s arm, obviously frightened. Swindoll reassured the child that everything was ok, but the lad was not convinced since the person at the door had knocked rather than used the doorbell.
Swindoll went to the door and opened it to find a friend of one of his sons who had dropped by unexpectedly. After the friend left, the grandchild was still holding onto Swindoll’s leg, but seemed a bit less frightened. The boy looked at Swindoll and said, “Bubba, we don’t have anything to worry about, do we?”
Swindoll reassured the child, “No, we don’t have anything to worry about. Everything is fine.”
Charles Swindoll went on to say the following. “You know why he was strong? Because he was hanging on to protection. As long as he was clinging to grandfather’s leg, he didn’t have to worry about a thing.” (Swindoll’s Book of Illustrations and Quotes)
So it is with you and me. As long as we hang onto the Lord, we don’t have to fear. Did you get that? We don’t HAVE to fear. We may choose to fear, but it is not necessary.
We need to stop right here and make sure one thing is clear. I am not saying there will never be reason to fear. I am not saying bad things will not happen. I am not even saying that fear will never come calling. We live in a fallen world. There will be reasons to be fearful. There will be bad things that will happen. Fear will come calling. How do I know?
John 16: 33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus says that we should have peace–the absence of fear and anxiety—because He has overcome the world. How has He overcome the world? Jesus has overcome the world by living as the God-man on earth, experiencing every trial and test that you and I experience, yet remaining sinless throughout his time on earth. His death on the cross as payment for our sin and rebellion defeated the stronghold of death for you and me. Every believer in Jesus Christ has this same overcoming ability through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.
MEDITATION MOMENT: Is fear something you battle on a regular basis? Some people do, while others are not predisposed to being fearful. If you battle fear, I would love to pray for you. Please either leave me a comment in the comments section below or send me an email to [email protected].
