What Really Scares You?

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 NLT)

When I was a boy, I had an inflatable clown that I used to punch, and it would bounce right back up. I kept it just inside my bedroom door. One night I ran up to my room, but before I had opportunity to turn on the light, I saw the shadow of my inflatable clown, and because of something I’d just watched on TV, I thought it was someone in my room. I don’t remember ever being more scared.

What scares you? Having searched the internet for things that most frighten people, I discovered the list is lengthy. Things like public speaking, heights, spiders, snakes, going to the dentist, being around people, violent storms and, of course, death. Often what we fear most is related to something we experienced as a child. It may not make any sense to someone else, but it’s very real to the one who has the fear.

While reading an article a few days ago, I came across a quote from Thomas Nagel, an atheist, who expressed his fear of being wrong. He said: “I speak from experience, being strongly subject to this fear myself: I want atheism to be true and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers.”

I read years ago about a time someone was speaking in defense of the Christian faith. Afterwards, a man came to the front of the auditorium and began to speak in defense of his atheism. Finally, the person asked him: “If I’m wrong in my beliefs, when I die, what will I have lost?” To which the man responded: “Since I don’t believe in an afterlife, I suppose you would lose nothing.”

They then asked him: “What if you’re wrong and I’m right?’ After a few moments of silence, the man said: “I guess I would have lost everything.”

Jesus claimed to be God in human form. He taught that His death on the Cross was the price He willingly paid for the penalty of sin for everyone who believes in Him and receives the gift of eternal life that only He can offer. His resurrection was God’s way of declaring the sacrifice Jesus made was acceptable, and to announce His victory over death and the grave. Then He ascended back to Heaven, leaving us the promise that one day He would return to gather His Bride, the Church, and forever we will reign with Him. These are the declarations He made to those who would place their trust in Him.  

As you consider what you believe in light of what Jesus claimed, where do you find yourself? Honestly, I find it impossible to doubt Someone who has never broken a promise or failed to fulfill everything ever written in the Bible about Him with 100% accuracy. The only promise remaining is His return for His Bride, which is much closer than we realize.

Corrie ten Boom said: “If you look at the world, you will be distressed. If you look within, you will be depressed. If you look at God, you will be at rest.” 

Where are you today, in terms of what you believe about Jesus? If you haven’t yet yielded your life and allegiance to Jesus, I only have one question: “What are you waiting for? And if you hold out any shred of hope in anything but Jesus: “What if you’re wrong?”

In a FaceBook post recently I read: “I would rather live my life believing in God and serving Him, and find out I was right, than not believe in Him and not serve Him, and find out I was wrong. Then it’s too late.” I don’t fear death, nor do I fear I’m wrong. My greatest fear is that someone I know and with whom I could have spoken about Jesus will die without Him.

Blessings, Ed 😊