Those Things That Abide: Faith VS Fear

Those Things That Abide:  Faith VS Fear
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) " And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

    Although we are often uncomfortable with change, we live in a continually changing world.  We often feel adrift in the uncertain stream of those changes.  The one certainty that we have is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever more. (Heb. 13:8).  In that certainty, we can abide, now and forever, in faith, hope and love. 

    To abide in faith, we must first overcome fear.  Fear is deeply embedded in the collective psyche of mankind.  When man fell, fear entered (Genesis 3:9-10 NKJV). “Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."    From that experience on, the Bible tells us again and again not to walk in fear.  Clearly, fear is troublesome.  

    John 10:10 (NKJV):  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Fear entered when the thief of our joy came into the garden.  Fear exits when we accept the abundant life we can have in Jesus Christ. 

    Romans 12:3 tells us that God has given to each of us a measure of faith.  The object of that faith determines whether we walk in abiding faith or unsettling fear.  When we place our faith in the things of the world, in the philosophies of man, or in ourselves, we meet with despair, disappointment and fear.   Whenever we think that mankind has all the answers, we need only to watch the news.  

    When we place our faith in the unchanging nature of God, we walk in the knowledge of Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV):  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts”.   By faith, we know that in spite of what is going on around us, our Lord knows the way through our wilderness.  

    When we place our faith in Him, we know that the way is good because He is good.  We know that we are surrounded by His love because He is love.  We abide in peace because He is the Prince of Peace.  In spite of circumstances, we can be filled with His joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.  In our faith in Who God is, we have victory over fear.

    Father God, we confess the fear that troubles our spirits and keeps us from Your peace and comfort.  By the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we release that fear, and by faith, welcome Your peace.  We choose this day to abide in faith. Amen