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c) Encouragement Amidst Trouble (Matthew 10:26-33)
MATTHEW 10:28
28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Hebrew 10:31; James 4:12)
These words are easy to say, but the reality is difficult to bear. When it comes to facing trials, whippings, dungeons, sword and fire the toughest heart will tremble and try to escape, especially when it is possible that they can be avoided by compromising.
Jesus mentioned the phrase “do not fear” thrice in His speech when sending His disciples to preach. This command is a divine order, that we should not fear men, death and Satan, even if the fear came to us from princes, parents, demons or other horrors.
What does a man fear? Does he fear suffering? It is only an introduction to death. Does death deserve to be feared? No! If Christ pours His life into us, we shall not die but live forever! Do we fear the life beyond the veil of death? No! For Christ’s blood washed our consciences from all unclean acts, and the Holy Spirit comforts us. Do we fear God? No! For He is our Father. The whole mankind, except the real Christian, fears and trembles because of His just judgment. As for us, He made us His beloved children, if His honest Spirit truly dwells in our hearts.
Christ fortified His disciples against these frightful temptations. He gives us a good reason against this fear, taken from the limited power of the enemy. They can kill the body only, that is the utmost their rage is able to do, if God permits them, but no further. They are not entitled to kill or hurt the soul, since the soul is within the person. The soul does not, as some dream, fall asleep at death, or cease from thought and perception; otherwise, the killing of the body would be the killing of the soul too. The soul will be tormented when it is separated from God and His love. This is out of the reach of their power. Tribulation, distress and persecution may separate us from all what is in this world, but cannot part between God and us, cannot cause us either not to love Him, or not to be loved by Him. If we were more concerned about our souls than our wealth, we should be less afraid of men, whose power cannot rob us of them. They can only kill the body, which may quickly die of itself, but not the soul, which will enjoy itself and remain in the realms of God in spite of them. They can but crush the cabinet but the precious pearl remains untouched.
Then how could Jesus say that we should fear God? And that He alone can cast us into hell? Christ declared to us the stern commandment of fearing God if we consider that the safety of our life would be more important than the dignity and love of our heavenly Father, and fall away from our faith in Christ. Then our Father would change into our Judge, for we have trodden on His salvation out of the fear of men. We shall stand before Him and give account for every idle word we said, every penny we spent and every intention we had. Blessed is the man who has already confessed all his sins to the holy God. Were it not for the blood of Jesus Christ, we would have been overwhelmed by fear and despair, yet Jesus saves us from the wrath to come, that we can always live in everlasting peace.
PRAYER: O Heavenly Father, Your Holy Spirit declared to us that there is no fear in love, for perfect love drives away fear. Forgive us our little love to You if we became afraid and fearful of death more than fearing You. Fill us with Your love that we may love You as you love us, and that we may love our enemies as You loved them and sacrificed your life for them. Strengthen us in love that we may testify for You in words and deeds, in prayer and thought to those whom Your Holy Spirit guides us. Open the ears of our hearts that we may hear Your directions and obey Your words.
QUESTION:
- How can we overcome in us the fear of men with regards to our testimony?