Cut fear down to size

Friends,

Recently, a preacher described fear as a distortion of faith in that fear stems from the belief that something can hurt you. For example, the fear of a cobra is based on the belief that the cobra can cause an injury. Men who handle such animals have replaced that belief with the confidence that they can control the snake. It is an interesting notion, and if one logically extends it, one can readily understand the unsaved man's fear of death, for death means facing the final judgment before a perfect and holy God.

God's chosen people, on the other hand, have no reason to fear death, for Christ has defeated it. Just as the snake-handler is confident in his ability to have command over the cobra, the believer has confidence in Christ's dominion over death. In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul confirms this foundational truth:

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
1 Corinthians 15:54 [NKJV]

Sisters and brothers, the enemy has all sorts of ways to instill and encourage fear and anxiety. At seemingly every turn, he threatens us with death at the hands of criminals, terrorists, disease and even toys. But we have the ultimate defense against such tactics. We are clothed in Christ, fully wrapped up in Him. And as He has defeated death, we join in that victory. While our bodies will surely die, our spirit cannot be injured! And because death has no power to injure us, we have nothing to fear.

Be encouraged,
Jose