January 2014.
Wow. If you had told me in 1959 I would be around writing a column in the year 2014 I would have laughed and said "You must have been reading too much science fiction" (my favorite genre then). Anyone recognizing the following knows exactly why I, and many others my age, felt that way.
"There was a turtle by the name of Bert
and Bert the turtle was very alert;
when danger threatened him he never got hurt
he knew just what to do...
He'd duck!
And cover!
Duck!
And cover!
He did what we all must learn to do,
'You And you And you And you!
Duck, and cover!'"
If you are too young to remember the above, you can Google "Bert the Turtle." It was quite a naive response to the threat of an atomic attack, and many of us didn't expect to live to adulthood, much less have children of our own. Many chose not to, reasoning it was futile to bring children into a world that may explode in a nuclear holocaust at any moment.
Although it wasn't long before we "outgrew" that particular fear, a funny thing happened on our way to life -- other fears took its place because even though we did make it through those times, there is a constant that seems to plague man through all the years that have passed and is still around -- fear. Fear that our and the world's economies are going to tank and plunge the world into a world-wide depression; fear climate change is going to destroy the planet; fear of another massacre. Fear this, fear that -- no matter where you look, what news program you watch, paper or book you read, everywhere there is advice on how to avoid the coming _____; you fill in the blank with your favorite fear.
I have only three things to say -- the first is "You ain't seen nuthin' yet!" Jesus told us of a time coming when men's hearts will be failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth and while this happens with such frequency these days it's no longer thought to be out of the ordinary, or placed at the feet of our diet and lack of exercise there will be a time when the very heavens themselves will be shaken. Again, "You ain't seen nuthin' yet."
The second -- if you just have to fear, best get what you fear right and do as Jesus said "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." Make sure your heart is right with God! Re-read Jesus' words!
The third -- if you have been saved and have Jesus as your savior, you have NOTHING to fear at all.
Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
John 14:2-3 "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
With these promises of God, made ours through the blood of Jesus, what is to fear? As David said "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
2nd Timothy 1:7 says "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love, and of a sound mind."
Since God has freely given us the kingdom through the blood of Jesus and prepared the place for us and is coming back to take us there, why DO you fear anyway?
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Editor's note: Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected], or write in care of The Times at [email protected] or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.
Religion on 01/22/2014