Things people fear

You Are Afraid Of What?

I used to be afraid of the basement in the house where I grew up. There, I said it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, right? Of course, I was really young back then…we moved into the house when I was twelve. Okay, so I wasn’t really young, but it was still scary.

I wasn’t afraid of the entire basement, just one spot. Once I was past that spot, I loved the basement. It was cool in the summer. It was more private than a lot of the house (when there are 10 kids in the family it’s hard to find a place to be alone). And it was where the ping pong table was. So, the basement was great, once I got past the one spot.

So, you are wondering, “what was that spot?” Well, when you came down the stairs, the basement opened to the right into the large family room. But on the left at the bottom of the stairs, was a door to the utility and storage part of the basement. And the door to that area had a hole cut in it that allowed the cats to get to their litter box.

So, why would a hole cut in the door scare me so much? It wasn’t the hole that scared me, but what might reach through that hole. All I could think about was that how something was going to reach through that hole, grab me, and drag me through the hole, off to who knows where! So, whenever I had to pass by that door, adrenaline would kick into my system and I would race by the door.

I know you are laughing at me now, aren’t you. Don’t deny it. I can hear you all the way over here. You’re saying, “How silly to be afraid of something like that! What are the chances that something is going to be in your basement that is able to pull you through a small hole and make you a prisoner for the rest of your life?”

Okay, you’re right, it is rather silly to be afraid of something like that. But let me turn the tables on you. What are you afraid of? The dark? Something under the bed? Dating? Marriage? Losing your job? Losing your health? Growing old? Not having enough money in retirement? Are all those things likely to happen? Probably not. Might there be something to be afraid of in each of those situations? Perhaps. Will worrying about any of those things help insulate you from them? Not a bit.

When Joshua was about to lead God’s people into the Promised Land, I am sure there were a lot of things that must have caused him to pause in fear. There were walled cities, trained and well-equipped armies, not to mention the sheer size of the area to be conquered. Fortunately for Joshua, God had a message for him. God said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

God has made the same promise to us. He will be with us always. That’s the only way we will be able to face our fears and overcome them. That’s the only way we can live in the present and not worry about the future. An old familiar saying may sound trite, but it is so true: I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. Because of that, I can trust in God and not be so afraid. How about you?

David Owens

Thought for the Week

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful"--Colossians 3:15

Peace is one of the sweetest words in our language. Peace means freedom from disturbance, quietness of mind, calmness and living in harmony and accord. We seek peace with God (Galatians 1:34, Philippians 4:9), peace among ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) and as much as is possible, peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14, Romans 12:18).  Peace with all men will come only when we love others in the same way we love ourselves (Romans 13:9, Matthew 5:43-44, 7:12). Peace with each other comes only by our loving each other with a pure heart fervently (1 Peter 1:22, John 13:35, 1 John 4:20). Peace with God will be ours only when we live in harmony and accord with his will (2 John 9, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Matthew 7:21-23).

Living in this old sinful world with all of its strife and unrest would indeed be most miserable without the peace of God ruling in our hearts. Just knowing that we are safe in the arms of Jesus as we struggle with pain, heartache and sorrow that so often engulfs us on this journey brings to us a calmness and a peace that does pass all understanding will sweep down over our souls. I love the words of Philippians 4:6-7: "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus". I am convinced beyond a shade of a shadow of doubt that when we commit our entire being, our lives, our souls, all that we  are and have into the hands of God there will a calmness, a quietness that will engulf us and nothing will separate us from the love of God  as we patiently wait for that day when we will fly away to the land where joys shall never end (Rom. 8:35-39, 2 Tim. 1:12).

When we are at  peace with all men, peace with each other and  peace with God we can truly say , It is well with my soul. Without  that peace that does pass all understanding reigning within us there will be no hope to anchor our souls and our lives will be filled with uncertainty and misery.

Charles Hicks

God wants us to love one another.

Psa 16:3  But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

The Psalmist knows the value of other believers. His delight is in the saints that are on the earth. He enjoys their companionship and he loves their presence in his life. He considers them as excellent; they are the best persons to be around.

How about us? Do we consider the saints to be excellent people to be around with? Do we delight in their company?

The two greatest commandments given to us relate to our relationship with God and to one another: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt 22:37, 39).

God wants us to love one another. He desires us to be in close fellowship with one another. But true fellowship doesn’t just happen; we have to work at it constantly. The first century church was in a close knitted fellowship with one another (Acts 2:44-47). It didn’t happen without them doing anything. They did things to make it happened. They came together! And one of the reasons that I can think of why they came together is that they delighted in each other’s company.

You can’t have any fellowship with your brethren without first coming together. Many of us look forward to the day when we will see Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Paul, Job, David, Ruth, Esther, and Sarah, and many other beautiful characters that we read of in the bible. But do we look forward to the saints that are around us?

The Psalmist’s delight is with “the saints that are on the earth.” He is not referring to those who are already dead and in paradise. It is the saints that he is seeing here on this earth, those around him that he delights with. Someone said and I quote: “To dwell above with the saints we love, O that will be glory! But to dwell below with the saints we know, well, that’s a different story!”

Sad, but it’s true: many want to see the characters they read of in the bible but they don’t want to see the brethren who are still with them. Even though we all desire close relationships, but because of the way we are, it puts a distance between us.

It is vital that we be committed to the fellowship of the saints. The fellowship of the saints is a family fellowship. True, families aren’t perfect and therefore, you are not either. But family get together because they’re family. They want to find out what’s going on in one another’s lives. The church should be the same: we want to find out what is going on in one another’s lives. And we should be interested in what’s happening to each other. Someone has a problem in his family, someone is sick, someone is weak in his faith, a husband and wife are not talking to each other, someone is getting married and etc. Family care about those things and so must we because we are part of God’s family and because the fellowship of the saints is a supportive fellowship. We support each other and show love and concern for each other. We delight in each other’s company.

The saints on the earth are excellent ones; they are the best persons to be with. I love the church camps; I consider the time spent together with the church members to be a delightful and excellent one. I remember the time when a group of thirty seven of us went on the Jerusalem trip together. It was eleven days of solid fellowship and great company. I wish that church members will group together for vacations instead of joining external tour groups; that will be a delight.

Some think rich men to be excellent, some think learned men to be excellent, some count men in authority to be excellent, but here we are taught that the men who are excellent are the saints on this earth. The Psalmist finds pleasure, not in the rich and the great, not in princes and nobles, but in those who are distinguished for virtue and piety. He finds his happiness only in those who are the friends of God.

If you feel that the saints are not a delight to be around, perhaps you are the problematic one. Are you a delight to be with? Do people find you a pleasure to be with? Though we delight to be in the company of certain ones, we must make ourselves also a delight to others. Others must find our presences immeasurably delightful. There is nothing more delightful than having coffee or a meal with a Christian friend. Attend church camps and enjoy the presence of the saints at meal times; they are the most delightful moments.  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psa 133:1).


Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

The faithfulness of the Psalmist is shown in his unwavering devotion to God and his sense of righteousness. He seeks to walk uprightly in the eyes of God. He always tried to live in such a way as to keep his feet free from wickedness (verse 4). He is confident of his own righteousness: “thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing” (verse 3). He relies on God for his daily walk so that he does not go astray: “Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (verse 5).

He sees the men of this world that they prosper (verse 14). He sees them as worldly and they set their eyes on the things of this world. But as for him, he says: “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness” (verse 15, ESV).

The men of this world seek their portion in this life, and are satisfied. But for the Psalmist, his satisfaction comes from looking at the face of God and being transformed to His likeness.

Such should be the highest desire of a godly man. While the men of the world rejoice in their worldly possessions, and while this is the first thought which they have when they wake up in the morning, the godly man wakes up and his first thought is on God. He goes to God in prayers. He desires to be in the image of God when he goes about doing the daily activities. He secures his path in God so that he does not slip (verse 5).

The Psalmist’s satisfaction is to be in God’s likeness, that is, resembles God. Man is created in the image of God (Gen 1:26). Man lost that image when they sinned. Christ came and revealed to man the image of God once again. God has foreordained that those who love God as revealed in Christ shall become Christ-like in life, and like Christ in eternity (Rom 8:29). The image of Christ is the image of God. Christ said: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9).
                                                          
The likeness spoken by the Psalmist doubtless refers to the moral character. The godly man desires to be in the likeness of God’s moral character. He will not walk in the paths of unrighteousness: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psa 1:1).

The Psalmist speaks of waking up and be satisfied with God’s likeness. There are three awakenings for mankind. The first awakening is when he wakes up each morning from his sleep. What do you do the first thing you wake up? The first thing that comes to the mind of a godly person is God. Others may be checking their Facebook and emails but the godly man seeks God.

The second awakening is when he wakes up from a life of sin. The prodigal son “came to himself”; he finally woke up and saw how wretched he had been (Luke 15:17). He saw how he had messed up his own life and he determined to make a change. The godly man makes a change and desires God.

The third awakening is when he wakes up from the sleep of death: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29). It is the final awakening when men shall see God and be changed into His likeness (1 Cor 15:51-54).

What do you find satisfaction in? Is it in your achievements, success, and wealth? The Psalmist does not desire the worldly man’s prosperity. He sets his blessedness on being in the presence of God and transforming himself to that image. It should be the same desire for us who are Christians.

True satisfaction comes from knowing and seeing God. It’s the desire of a godly man. One thing for sure: When we wake up from the sleep of death, we want to see God and let Him change us into His likeness.

Indeed, woe to the person who wakes up from the sleep of death and does not behold God. What a tragic day it will be for such a person. Therefore, my brethren, if we desire to wake up on that day and behold the face of God, let us wake up each morning seeking God. Those who seek shall find (Matt 7:8).

Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Indonesian pop star Irma Bule

Snakebit

Billy Alexander reports: Indonesian pop star Irma Bule was famous for wearing snakes during her performances on stage.  During a recent performance she stepped on a king cobra who struck her thigh before a live audience.  King cobras can release enough venom in a single bite to kill 20 people or an elephant.  The snake’s handler offered Bule an antidote for the snake’s bite but she refused and continued on with the show.  Before her stunned audience, she collapsed on stage and was later pronounced dead.  The entertainer was either unaware that the snake’s bite was fatal or she was too focused on her performance to focus on her ebbing mortality.*

In the Garden of Eden, Eve was the first “bitten” by the serpent (Satan), followed by her husband, Adam.  Seeking to cast doubt on God’s command not to eat of the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17), the serpent (Satan) asked Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1).  Then Satan deliberately lied: “You shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).  Deceived by the deceiver, Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, as did Adam, and they sinned (Genesis 3:6).

“Since then all accountable men and women have felt the sting of sin and death,” writes Alexander.

Many of the Israelites were later bitten by literal serpents and died (Numbers 21:6).  “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people (v.7).  God’s remedy was that they were to make a fiery serpent of bronze and set it on a pole and raise it up so that when the people were bitten by the serpents they could look up to it and be healed (v.8).

This remedy was a preview of Christ’s ultimate antidote for the “snake bite” of sin that has universally plagued humanity.  Jesus said: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-16).  The Son of Man was lifted up to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins (Ephesians 1:7).

The Scriptures teach us that the way to look to Jesus and live is to place our faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  Then, we must continue to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), following Him and trusting His continual cleansing (1 John 1:7).

Quoting Alexander: “Although [Satan] has snapped his fangs into each one of us [through our sin], Jesus was lifted up so that we might live.  Those who carry on with their life’s performance and neglect the only remedy will surely fall.  Those who look to Jesus will live and overcome the serpent’s venom.”

Won’t YOU, through your trusting obedience, look to Jesus and be saved?

-- David A. Sargent

* From “Snakebit” by Billy Alexander in Start2Finish.org, 4/13/16.

David A. Sargent