Love Drives Out Fear

1 John 4:16b-18

...God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made prefect in love.

There are many people that walk around always fearful about one thing or another. Sometimes the fear makes sense. If you live in a place noted for the presence of rattle snakes, a little fear will keep you on the look out for the poisonous serpents. Other times we find that we fear things that are nothing at all like an ISIS attack at Wal-mart or a sinkhole opening up and swallowing the house we live in. Neither are likely, but the news media would have us live in fear at all times of these things.

The fact is that if we are really believers, we have nothing to fear because we are loved by God. As Paul said in Romans 8:38, 39:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So Christian, are you living in love? Are you living in and enjoying the love of God? Or are you always fearful of the world or your life situation or what will happen tomorrow? Or maybe you are afraid that you just won't measure up when God's judgement curtain falls?

If you are living in that kind of fear, then I am concerned. It means that you do not understand the love that God has for you as His child.

My friend, you have been forgiven by your Creator. You are covered by His grace and love. Rest secure in that knowledge and know that He will bring you Home in the Great and Terrible Day. You are His and He is in you. Take joy in knowing that whatever life may bring, He is with you always. You were not baptized into vinegar, but into His Spirit. You have nothing to fear. He has conquered fear with His love. The only one that has lost anything or will lose anything is the Devil and we no longer serve him. He stands condemned. We do not. We have been saved from judgement.

So the next time you are feeling a bit fearful or dread washes over you as you go out into the world, think about what God has done for you and think about the eternal security that you have in Him. You are going to live forever. The grave will not contain what you have in you. You are sons and daughters of the Living God.