Fear Is a Liar!

Whenever Job is mentioned, people immediately think of his patience. But there is another often overlooked aspect about Job that no one ever talks about. Here it is:

Job 3:25-26 NIV— What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”

Job’s statement begs the question: “Okay. What things have come upon you that you were afraid would happen?”

Those things are obvious if we simply read the Scripture in the Book of Job.

1. Job was afraid his children were going to rebel against the Lord and be destroyed.

Job 1:4-5 NIV— His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

Job 1:18-19 NIV— While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

2. Job was afraid of losing his wealth and possessions.

Job 1:13-17 NIV

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

3. Job was afraid of losing his health.

Job 2:7-10 NIV— So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

From my point of view, His wife turning her back on him was the most painful thing he suffered. But that is for another time and another Graceline.

My point is this: Job said he was afraid of all these things happening to him, and they did. What does fear have to do with it? Well, FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is essentially faith in the devil. He is a liar from the beginning and still is. He rules this world, so naturally he is going to try and control the world through fear. Whatever is not of faith (in the Lord) is sin (Romans 14:23). Fear is lack of faith in the Lord and is sin. Sin gives satan access to our lives just like it did in Job’s life. Beware. Don’t listen to the lies. Fear is a liar.

For those of us who have Jesus living His life in us, through us, for us, and as us, fear has no place in us. Jesus is perfect love, and perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

Psalm 56:3-4 NKJV— Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word) IN GOD I HAVE PUT MY TRUST; I WILL NOT FEAR. What can flesh do to me?

Whenever we are afraid, we are putting our faith in the devil. He lies. God is Truth. Why don’t we trust Him? Listen:

Psalm 91 NLT

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.  Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.  DO NOT DREAD THE DISEASE THAT STALKS IN DARKNESS, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; NO PLAGUE WILL COME NEAR YOUR HOME. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

The world is filled with fear these days over the Coronavirus. That’s all you here about on both radio and television. Yes, we should take precautions against it, but we cannot stop living. We cannot wrap ourselves in a bubble to protect us from a fear mongering world.

In my most humble opinion, we are over-reacting to this virus. Yes, it a virulent strain capable of killing people. But so does the common flu. Between 200,000 and 400,000 people die in the United States each year from the flu. Are we closing public gatherings because someone might get the flu? We even have people who are afraid to come to church because of this virus. You got to know how happy that makes the devil!

Listen. Take precautions, especially if you are chronologically gifted (old) with health concerns. Don’t be stupid and expose yourself to danger. But we are taking this virus to extremes when we don’t know that much about it. Trust God. Take the necessary precautions. Live in the NOW. And trust God to protect you. Relax in the unforced rhythms of His grace. Don’t be afraid. Trust God, not the fear monger of our souls.

All I’m saying is that we have been down this road before.

2000— Y2K is going to kill us all.

2001— Anthrax is going to kill us all.

2002— West Nile Virus is going to kill us all.

2003— SARS is going to kill us all.

2005— BIRD Flu is going to kill us all.

2006— ECOLI is going to kill us all.

2008— The bad economy is going to kill us all.

2009— SWINE Flu is going to kill us all.

2010— BP Oil is going to kill us all.

2012— The Mayan Calendar is going to kill us all.

2013— North Korea is going to kill us all.

2014— Ebola Virus is going to kill us all.

2015— Disney Measles and ISIS are going to kill us all.

2016— Zika Virus is going to kill us all.

2020— Corona Virus is going to kill us all.

In actuality, Fear is Killing You… Turn off the TV!!!!!!

God is still in control. He told me so this morning.

Blessings,

Kenny