Is Fear Unreasonable?
I once heard a man describe his life on a sheep ranch in New Zealand. As he told about the unusual stupidity of sheep, I could see how the frequent references to sheep in the Bible really do apply to us. We follow the crowd. We are helpless when we are attacked, especially if we are attacked by fear. No wonder Christ, the Good Shepherd, continues to assure us, “Fear not, little flock.” It may not be a flattering picture, but without His guidance we “baa baa” and wander aimlessly through life, searching for green pastures and stumbling over rocks. “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
...The greatest fear comes when God is a stranger—when our voices and hearts cry out, “God, help me,” but our words are muffled because we do not know Him. What do sheep do without a shepherd? They stumble in the darkness. The Bible says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). And that’s our picture: going in all directions, bumping into each other, and not being able to find our way home. Fear stalks our every turn.
...Our culture trains us to prepare for almost everything but death. And I include the churches because I have rarely ever heard any public utterance on the subject.”
...If the Bible says “fear not,” and yet it also says “fear,” which does it mean? The answer is: both. Fear is a twofold word. It refers to an emotion marked by dread and anxious concern. But it is also the word that means awe and profound reverence. This is the fear that inspires trust and confidence.
When we fear God, we don’t cringe before Him like a prisoner robbed of his freedom by a ruthless dictator. Our fear is a love which causes us to treat Him with respect. This is what the prophet Isaiah meant when he said, “The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). It is a reverence that comes when we see the majesty and holiness of our loving heavenly Father.
Graham, B. (2004). The enduring classics of billy graham. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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