“O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?” (Isaiah 40:27 NLT). The Lord cares for all things, and the lowest creatures share in His universal providence—but His particular providence is over His saints: “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:7 NKJV); “Their lives are precious to him” (Psalm 72:14 NLT); “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants” (Psalm 116:15); “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Let this fact cheer and comfort you: while He is the Savior of all people, He is especially the Savior of those who believe. You are His particular care; the regal treasure He guards as the apple of His eye; the vineyard that He watches over day and night. “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30). Let the thought of His special love for you be a spiritual painkiller, a salve to your woe: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). God says that to you as much as to any saint of ancient times. “Do not be afraid. . . . I am your shield, your very great reward” (Genesis 15:1). We lose much comfort by our habit of reading God’s promises for the whole church instead of taking them directly home to ourselves. Believer, grasp the Scriptures with a personal, appropriating faith. Think that you hear Jesus say, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (see Luke 22:32). Imagine that you see Him walking on the waters of your trouble—He is there, and He is saying, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Oh, those sweet words of Christ! May the Holy Spirit make you feel that they were spoken to you. Forget other people for a while—accept the voice of Jesus as addressed to you personally, and say, “Jesus whispers comfort, I cannot refuse it. I will sit under His shadow with great delight.” - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
Fear. Fears. Terror. Horror.
The greatest fear, is not found in this world. Huh? You may say.
The greatest fear, is not found in this world.
It's found in Hell. That very real place where Scripture says there is weeping and gnashing of teeth the duration of which does...not...end.
The opposite of all that is found in Heaven. There is no fear, nothing of the kind is found in Heaven, because that is the Throne of God. That is where Christ is.
In this world there is the media and political figures who, through the guidance of Satan, play on the fears of the people.
Stoking controversy, stirring up people groups against each other. All while they sit back and comfortably watch them destroy each other.
Tolerance is being demanded yet not being shown.
In Christ is where peace is found. Yet even in Christ we are forewarned that we will indeed find tribulations and trials.
That a man's enemies will be members of his own family. Sounds like that was ripped right from today's headlines doesn't it? There's infighting even within the professing Church. Compromise begets infighting. You cannot take a stand with Christ and not find that the world is against you.
So what do we do? Jesus says of Himself that He is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. That He will never leave us nor forsake us. That He is the promise maker who is the promise keeper.
Parallels...oh how I see parallel responses. Side by side in the same circumstances yet watch those who do not have Jesus react to the same things as myself get a whole different set of results. By no means, my friend, do I imply that I have arrived, that I am better than anyone else. My confidence is not in me nor anything of me. My confidence in life comes from Jesus. At work people imply that I am doing so many great things. That's not me. That's a result of prayer to my Savior who has chosen to bless the work of my hands and to bless my life. At the same time I see others in the same boat struggling and I know without a doubt it's their lack of a relationship with Jesus that's missing.
Many years ago I was more apt to be in a panic mode than not. In the years since, God's been working on me and in me. He's been growing me in Him. I have such a long way to go until He says that I have arrived. My comfort comes from Jesus.
Fears try their hardest to worm their way into my life. Then Jesus reminds me "I'm still here. I still love you."
For those without Christ, Jesus is on the other side of the door of your heart knocking, saying "I am still here. I love you!" My friend, open that door.
The fear, the horror, the terror felt hour by hour, second by second by those in Hell has only to do with the truth of the knowledge that they know that Jesus is real, is who He said He was, and that they will now spend eternity apart from Him.
My personal thoughts on death are that Jesus is there when everyone dies. That He awaits those who are His and welcomes them into His Heaven. I also believe He meets those who are not His and they know a taste of the love they denied themselves by rejecting Him.
For those of you reading this who haven't yet come to Christ, is being right in your own eyes really worth spending eternity in torment and horror in Hell? Is all that you are afraid of losing in THIS life worth spending eternity in Hell? The scales of truth are before you. Weigh it out. Is what you are refusing to let go of in exchange for a life now and forever in Christ worth holding onto? Don't let fear in the here and now tell you what to believe. In Christ perfect love casts out fear. He's at the door, knocking, won't you let Him in?
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