Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:17-19)

Overcoming Fear

One of the first emotions Adam and Eve experienced after disobeying God was fear. When their eyes were opened, they were ashamed. Hearing the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden, they hid among the trees in fear. Adam told God they hid because they heard His voice and were afraid. Fear is one of the consequences of sin. The fear of death comes from man being expelled from the garden where the tree of life was found. Death is the great unknown that brings dread and fear to the heart. The uncertainty of life, brought on by disease, war, famine, natural disasters, and conflict between humans, darkens the world with a grip of fear. God created man in His image, and man, as an eternal being, has a consciousness that feeds upon fear when left to its own devices. Satan takes advantage of that fear, leading men to rebel against the Lord.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they experienced fear, but God promised to take away that fear. It was a mystery that would not be fully revealed until Jesus Christ came into the world to offer the hope of life in the face of the fear of death. There is the fear of the death of the body and the fear of separation from fear. God has never left His creation without providing a witness to show them how to overcome fear. Noah overcame fear when He moved with godly fear, preparing the ark for the saving of his household. Abraham faced the fear of killing his only begotten son through an obedient faith, believing in the impossible that God would raise Isaac from the dead. Moses overcame fear when he led the rebellious children of Israel to the borders of Canaan. David faced the fear of Goliath through his faith in God’s power. Daniel and his friends withstood the powers of the Babylonian king because they trusted in God’s deliverance.

Jesus came to take fear away from the hearts of God’s people. Sin brings fear. Jesus takes fear away. The gospel is given to show man the path of love that God had in sending His Son to die for all men. God has given His Spirit to offer the blessing of divine love through the sacrifice of His Son. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, the fear of death is removed. Jesus did not take away war, disease, and death. He came to give man an answer for fearing those things. Love takes away fear because the heart understands the brevity of life and that while life is filled with trials, heartaches, and sorrow; it is but for a moment – like a vapor. The promise of eternal life removes fear, enabling us to claim the crown of life with bold confidence. Love puts death where it belongs and refuses to allow fear to rule the heart.

Overcoming fear is akin to building an ark, leaving altars of worship and glorying in God, obeying the Word of God without any doubts, defying the Goliaths of the world, and facing death with a determined soul that will not back away from serving the one true God. A bold and courageous spirit will love the Lord with all the heart, soul, and mind. There is no torment in love because the love of God is so immense that there is no room for fear. Overcoming fear is believing that God is true, His promises are absolute, and His love is enduring. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God, and love comes from faith. Overcoming fear can only come from the word of God dwelling in the heart of the child of God. Prayer becomes the natural response of faith, and through that faith, fear is dismissed.

On the front of the mantel in the ancient Hind’s Head Hotel at Bray, England, the following was inscribed: “Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. No one was there.” Perfect love casts out fear because the love of the child trusting in the love of the heavenly Father will have no fear. The greater the faith, the less there is to fear. There is no hand as great as the one that holds the universe. If God can place the universe within the span of His hand, what is there to fear? Jesus Christ came to take away the fear of death because there is victory in the resurrection. Fear is but for a moment. Love is forever. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.