Our present time has been called the “The Age of Terror.” For a whole host of reasons. Obviously terrorism is one. The idea of getting your own way by terrorizing people so that they give in. Bombing and shooting and wounding and killing until people are so scared of what may happen they just let you do what you want.

Another aspect of the age of terror is the future. People are very insecure, and truly fear what the future hold. Where is the world going? With all its many problems, can we survive into the twenty-first century? So many of this world’s inhabitants have nothing to hold on to, and hope is very fragile.
And then there are perhaps the greatest aspects of terror: the threat of nuclear destruction or global toxic pollution or world famine or vast epidemics of some deadly virus or terrible disease. Along with all the world we live under the shadow of the mushroom cloud of fear.

Old ladies who are afraid to open their front door for the fear of being robbed or raped; travellers frightened to fly in planes for fear of being apart in midair; city dwellers afraid to go out at night for fear of being mugged and knifed.

So where did fear come from? When did it all begin?

Right back there with Adam and Eve in the Garden (see Genesis 3:9). “The Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid...’

The very first mention of fear. The first time somebody trembled and shook. Afraid of who? Sadly it was because they were frightened of God, and what he would do to them! The Creator God in all his loving goodness, was the first person to be feared by mankind! Frightened of God. Fearful of the one who had made them and cared for them, who had given them everything that was good. I wonder what God thought?

For from then on, throughout history, God has been trying to convince us not to be afraid. And when Jesus came, that’s what he kept on saying: Do not be afraid. As he comes walking on the water towards the terrified disciples: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mt.14:27. At the mount of Transfiguration: “Get up”, Jesus said. “Don’t be afraid”. Mt.17:7. In the locked room after the resurrection: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.” Mt.28:10. To Jairus, weeping over his dead daughter: “Don’t be afraid; just believe”. Mk.5:36. To Simon Peter, a man just like us, who said to Jesus “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid.” Lk. 5:10. To the disciples and to us: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom”. Lk.12:32.

And so, we truly MUST believe it. God doesn’t want us to be afraid of him or of anything else. Again and again he has said it, and pointed to himself as the one who is fully trustworthy and one we do not need to be afraid of: “Do not let your heart be troubled. trust in God, trust also in me...Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you...Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jn.14:1, 27.

Why? Because “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The man who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

Christ’s perfect love for us has driven away our fear of him. For fear is being scared of what is going to happen to us in terms of punishment - like the fires of hell! But this is not God’s way at all. He simply lets those who refuse to love him and who obstinately reject his offer of freedom and eternal life to go their own way sin’s destruction.

So if you still fear God, if you are still scared of his intentions towards you, remember God in Jesus and love him until your fears are drowned in His immense love for you.

© Jonathan Gallagher