The Path of Life

Faith in the Presence of Fear

December 28, 1997

John 20:19-31; Psalm 16

We stand on the threshold of a New Year. The record of 1997 is largely written. What's done is done; what's left undone is left undone, and there's no changing that. This is a time to look ahead, a time to anticipate and to plan for the future.

As we stand between the once was and the is not yet, what sort of claim do you suppose God might claim for your life and mine?

What is there in the months ahead that God would have us do individually and as a this church? How do you suppose we can bear witness to God's saving power? How can we help our Chinese ministry? What sort of New Mission do you suppose God intends for us to take on?

Psalm 16 begins, "Protect me, O Lord God, for I am trusting in you!" The Psalmist, David, is using what seems to me the language of fear. He probably had good reason to fear, for his life was often in danger. There could have been a tendency to simply play a defensive role— drop back and hold on to the good and let God's call come to him. There could have been a temptation to operate out of fear.

I. WE ALL FACE FEAR'S CHALLENGE IN OUR DARK HOURS OF THE SOUL

Do you ever feel fear? Is it a sin to feel negative emotions? Is it evil to have questions or even doubts when it seems everyone else is so certain about so many things?

Can the feeling of FEAR keep me out of heaven? Feelings are emotions feelings are results, not causes and God is not seeking reasons to exclude, but to INCLUDE. He is not willing that ANY should perish. NO FEELING will keep you or me out of heaven. In the Gospel Thomas is afraid to believe and Jesus comes to him in the Psalm David is afraid, and he cries out "O God help me!"

Still, there IS a fear that can keep us from taking hold of the gift of LIFE. And there is an unbelief that is not of the mind but of the heart that says, "I will not submit to God even when He speaks clearly to me."

After the resurrection the disciples were afraid to believe. They thought: "It is too good to be true!" Jesus came and dispelled their fears somewhat it took a while. But Thomas wasn't there. He said, "I have to SEE for myself." He was afraid to let himself get built up just to be let down again.

Looking again to Psalm 16, David prays for God's mercy, but even as he prays he recognizes how audacious it is to talk to God. He says, "MY GOODNESS EXTENDETH NOT TO THEE." In another place (Psalm 8) David says, "WHEN I CONSIDER THE HEAVENS, WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM?"

BUT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE WHO TRULY IS BIGGER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE HAS SPOKEN TO US IN THE LIFE AND DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST!

That message is understandable even though we can never understand WHY God should love us! That message IS: GOD LOVES YOU!

Jesus said: "Thomas, I'll help you believe! FAITH WITHIN US SAYS: Jesus really DOES know and care about ME!

As they faced an unknown future

Jesus told them how to overcome fear with faith. First:

Jesus BREATHED ON THEM, and said: RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!

I'm sure they did not grasp it fully then nor even fifty days later at Pentecost but the disciples and you and I are to be the place where God lives on this earth. We are God's housing! Do YOU think of yourself as a tabernacle of God? Is God welcome in YOUR body? In your relationships? is that a new thought to you? Is it a bit frightening?

Then, Jesus told them to tell people their sins were forgiven:

This is mysterious, and not easy to understand: "Those whose sins you forgive they will be forgiven... those whose sins you don't forgive they will remain...?" We can stop and get hung up on the translation of words here OR we can understand that WE have a part in sharing the Good News of Salvation.

FEAR said, that night, "Lord Jesus we have all been afraid! We have all forsaken you and run away! How can WE ever accept such an assignment?" But FAITH SAID: "YOU CAN SHOW ME HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!

II. SOMETIMES WE ARE AFRAID TO BELIEVE HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US

Our souls somehow become the battlefield of fear versus faith.

The Adult Class taught by Ruth Cameron has been studying Job. Job's soul certainly was a battlefield! Job loved God and refused to believe God was anything but GOOD! He certainly did not understand what was going on. But Job said, "GOD KNOWS! I WILL TRUST HIM!" Faith went beyond what it could see, and even what it could NOT see and reached for the hand of God.

In some of Britain's darkest hours in WW II, the people listened by their radios on New Year's Eve as their king, King George VI, gave his annual greeting to his people over BBC. It was truly a fearsome time. The very existence of their nation was at risk. And the king that night quoted words that have since become famous. he said:

"I said to the man who stands at the Gate of the Year, 'Give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Step into the darkness, put your hand into the hand of God, and that will be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.'"

David said, "In your Presence is joy! If I can just BE WITH YOU I will be all right!" We do not have to wait until we die and go to heaven to know God's Presence. he is near, He is with us today. If we will let Him he will live within us, and walk with us. We may not know all about Him, but we may know Him. He loves us, and his perfect love cast out fear.

Prayer

Hymn (Chorus) #626 Gentle Shepherd Come and Lead Us