Within the context of the Great Depression, a former US President is remembered for saying that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Should we be afraid of fear? Without trying to understand all that he had in mind, let us consider some truths about fear and who and what we truly ought to be afraid of.
There is a good fear to not be afraid to have; in fact, it is a fear that we must have, and that is godly fear: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35). And hear Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” If we will serve God acceptably, we will do it with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28).
But the kind of fear we ought to fear having, the kind of fear that we must overcome if we will please God and avoid hell fire, is a fear that results in cowardice, a lack of courage: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
The cowardly are afraid to make waves with the world. The Christian’s obedience to the gospel creates unavoidable conflict with the world, but the cowardly Christian is afraid. He’s too concerned with what men think of him. But whoever desires to make himself a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4).
Cowardice causes men to refuse to do God’s will because of the earthly consequences. Telling another the truth can make you the others’ enemy (Galatians 4:16). Fear of that consequence may cause the truth to be withheld; that’s cowardice.
Cowardice causes men to shrink from standing up for what is right because of the personal loss that may come. When Herodias’ daughter asked for the head of John the Baptist in response to his rash oath, the Bible says, “because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her” (Mark 6:26). That’s cowardice.
Many Jewish rulers believed in Jesus, “but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43). That’s cowardice that will trade the approval of God for the approval of men. Said another way, they chose the disapproval of God over the disapproval of men.
We need to have the right fear – the fear of God. And we need to decide within ourselves that we will not shrink back in cowardice, being fearful of men and the consequences of being a Christian, but will instead be courageous in our conflict against evil. Jesus said, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5)
– Larry Jones