SALVATION'S REMEDY FOR FEAR AND BONDAGE

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb 2:14-15). "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom 8:15).

Devotion 11 of 18

DISTANCE PRODUCES FEAR

The fear from which Jesus delivers us is the result of being at a distance from God. The Psalmist expressed this in the sixty-fifth Psalm. "They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at Thy tokens" (verse 8). Other versions read, "so that those who dwell at earth's farthest bounds are afraid at Thy signs" (RSV). "And they who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Thy signs" (NASB). "Those living far away fear Your wonders" (NIV).

God's "tokens" are His signs, or evidences of His mighty working. There is no corner of the earth where they are not made known. Whether it is a global flood, or the regional overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, His "tokens" are made known to the sons of men. There are great deliverances like Israel from Egypt, or personal ones like Peter from prison–but God's "tokens" are made known.

FEAR AND DREAD ON MOAD AND CANAAN. When God delivered Israel from Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea. When they safely crossed over, and had seen the Egyptians drowned before their very eyes, they broke forth in a song of praise. The following expression was in their sons. "The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of Thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till Thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which Thou hast purchased" (Ex 15:14-16). Those dwelling in remote places would be afraid at God's "tokens."

THE PEOPLE OF JERICHO. As an example of those in "the uttermost parts" being afraid of God's "tokens," consider the people of Jericho. Word of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt had reached their provinces. It was not taken casually. Rahab reported to the spies the effects this news had upon people of Jericho. "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, OUR HEARTS DID MELT, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Josh 2:10-11). They were "afraid" at God's "tokens."

THE EARLY CHURCH. During the early days of the church, God judged Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit. You may remember they did not tell the truth about what they had given for the work of the Lord. As a result, both of them died. Of that event it is written, "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. . . . And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them" (Acts 5:11-13). Regarding "the church," their fear compelled them to press close to the Lord. Regarding those who were at a distance from God, it drove them from the Lord, and they were afraid to be identified with them. They were afraid of God's "tokens."

The greater the distance between God and the individual, the more afraid the person becomes at any evidence of God–His "tokens." It is no wonder that some have created dogmas that affirm God no longer has any "tokens," or works among the sons of men. Such teaching lulls the heart to sleep, thereby making the person vulnerable to deception and the work of the wicked one.

But God has not ceased to work, and has given no evidence that such will ever be the case. Jesus once said, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (John 5:17). He gave no indication that would ever stop being the case. The "whole earth" earth is still "full of His glory" (Isa 6:3). He still works in the behalf of His people. He has delivered them, He does deliver them, and He will deliver them (2 Cor 1:10). He still raises up rulers and puts them down (Psa 75:7). His judgments are still in the earth, executed with precision and finality (1 Chron 16:14; Psa 105:7). Our God still "frustrates the signs of babblers, and drives diviners mad" (Isa 44:25). He still has His way in the whirlwind (Nahum 1:3), and looses the rain and snow to fall upon the earth (Job 37:6). That His "tokens" are still in the earth is only questioned by the foolish and ignorant.

But those who are at a distance from God are afraid of those "tokens." Any time they associate some sort of calamity, grief, hardship, or sorrow with God, they are afraid. They are afraid because faith cannot be created or sustained while one dwells at a distance from God. The sight of a crimson sunset, for example, has frightened many a soul, reminding them that the end of all things is at hand. The ultimate fear will be experienced when Jesus comes again, and the day of His wrath is revealed. Then those who dwelt in the morally distant realms will "hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and [say] to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev 6:15-16).

Such fright is not caused by faith, or by a quest for the living God. It exists because they chose to remain at a distance from God, refusing to think upon or seek Him. That is the result of a large chasm between you and God. That kind of fear can only be removed by drawing close to the Lord, resolving your alienation, and receiving the reconciliation.

Suffice it to say, a person's religion had better not permit him to live at a distance from God. It had better resolve the matter of withdrawing fear, or there is no hope of life everlasting.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ for the reality and power of reconciliation. I confess that nearness to You causes me to rejoice at Your tokens, whether they are matters of blessing or chastisement.

– Tomorrow: THE PRESENCE OF JESUS AND FEAR --