Thought for Today

Are we living in fear?  From the war between Israel and Iran, to rumors about how the United States may respond, to the possibility of World War Three, are we iving in fear?

Then there is prophetic fear: fear about the last days, tribulation and the great tribulation. One prominent fear currently making the rounds of social media cncerns the “three days of darkness.”

That judgment seems to parallel one of God’s final judgments in the book of Revelation, when the beast’s kingdom is thrown into darkness. It ties in more closely to the plague of darkness God visited on Egypt as part of Israel’s deliverance. What is said about this forthcoming plague of darkness? All the demons in hell will be unleashed. Everyone must stay inside for those three days, keeping all doors and windows closed.

But is any of that biblical? It turns out that this “judgment” traces to visions fo Roman Catholic mystics. Indeed according to some, the only light that will work will be special blessed beeswax candles. Doesn’t this sound more like a fear-mongering lie of Satan? Isn’t he the one who twists Scripture to make what he says sound true, even though it is not? After all, Jesus declared that Satan was the father of lies.

Jesus said we are not to fear those who can kill the body only and then do no more, but to fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell (see Matthew 10:28). Scripture tells us over and over again not to fear, to not be afraid. Even the church at Smyrna, which was about to undergo severe persecution was told not to fear (Revelation 2:10).

Here are a couple more examples:

1 Peter 3:14 (NAU): But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.

1 John 4:18 (NAU): There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Jesus tells us that the last days will be so terrible that in a sense people may be dying from sheer fear (literally to be faint of heart due to fear or terror, Luke 21:26). In contrast we are to look up for our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).

The best thing we can do is to draw close to Jesus Christ, to rely upon and trust the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction. The more time we spend reading Scripture, the better. With all the lies that surround us, how much better to focus on what is absolutely true, true from all eternity past to all eternity future.

Jesus has already told us in John 16:2–3 (NAU): “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.”

As we are seeing, these are the exact things that those dedicated to Islam seek to do. But as we’ve seen, we are not to fear them: all they can do is kill us, and then we will be with Jesus for all eternity. They cannot destroy our souls.

Isaiah 8:12 (NAU): You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.

Nor are we to fear the ever-increasing number of high-level conspiracies internet pundits are constantly telling us about. Rather, we are to focus on God, who never changes, who remains in control, who has secured our future through Jesus Christ. As things get even crazier, hopefully the world will see that difference in us, the trust and security we have through Jesus Christ.

Let us live in Jesus’s peace that surpasses all understanding, not in the fear that grips this world!