The devil has always used fear as a tactic to get Christians to cower and not trust in the word of God. This is unlike the fear that we are to have for God. We fear God because we know he is holy and all powerful and holds the key to our future in eternity. He is not a tyrant, but is described as our Father who loves us and graciously sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could live with Him in heaven forever (John 3:16). When we fear God, we do not have to fear anything or anyone else (Psalm 118:60). The devil tries to get us to fear for our future, to fear man, and to doubt God. The wise man wrote, The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25 NKJV). Fear paralyzes us when we should act. In situations in which we are fearful, we might tell a “white lie,” or laugh at a dirty joke, or stay silent in the face of sinful behavior such as gossip or fornication, or fail to protest against ungodly teachings in our children's schools, and many other cowardly things we might do. Sadly, many choose the easy way, which is the way of facing the least amount of resistance from one’s peers. Jesus called this way the broad way (Matthew 7:13), and He said it leads to hell.
However, the Holy Spirit commands all Christians to be brave: Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). This command was given to the Corinthian church which lived in a culture rife with fornicators, idolaters, and slanderers (1 Cor. 6:9,10). The command to "be brave" is similar to what God told Joshua as he was about to lead the Israelites into the promised land: Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go (Joshua 1:7). It takes a brave person to do the will of God in an ungodly culture. In the Greek language, this word for "brave" finds it's root in the word "man." This is fitting, as we sometimes say today, “Be a man!” to those who need to be brave. When God appeared to Job who had been misjudging Him, God says the like to Job: Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me (Job 38:2,3).
Today, many are quickly bowing the knee to the loud voices of ungodliness, and are afraid to call them out about it (John 7:7). By standing up to evil, we protect our families, our communities, and our brethren. It has always been necessary to stand up against evil. Adam failed to be a man by not stomping that serpent into the ground, and the world has suffered ever since. God said there would be “enmity” between the devil’s seed and Eve's seed, thus there has always been hostility between those who follow Christ’s teachings and those who reject them. The good news is our Lord has defeated the devil (cf. Genesis 3:15; 1 John 3:8), and if we bravely stand on the Lord's side, we will be victorious as well. Where do you stand?
Brotherly, Jamie
