Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (KJV)
Our world has been exploding with fear of a radical group of black-clad, hooded demons wielding knives at throats and showering bullets and shrapnel from homemade bombs on the unsuspecting. Spilling the blood of Jews and Christians–their arch enemies. The violent against the peaceful, the faithful against the militant. Cut down are men, women, children; this siege of death to defeat Yahweh, the LORD God, began in the Garden with two. Persecution can kill the body but not the soul of those who are committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Following the crucifixion of Christ, the followers of Jesus were fearful. They felt like their lives were on the line. They denied Jesus, abandoned Him, and cowed-down– barred the windows and locked the doors to try to protect themselves. Jesus had ticked off the establishment with His words and look what happened to Him. Our testimony can be met with resistance as well. Jesus said it would. John 15:18 reminds us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me (Jesus) first.”
Jesus reminds the disciples and us that the body is not as important as the soul. He proved it on Good Friday as his flesh was slowly ripped from his body, his face was pummeled into an unrecognizable state, and his life blood slowly dripped away as He said, “This blood’s for you!” His heart so full of love it burst and blood flowed down and spilled onto the Mercy Seat of God to pay the price of my sin. JESUS the PERFECT sacrificial LAMB OF GOD. And the veil was “rent in two from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51) so we could waltz into the throne room of God and approach Him without a mediator. (Hebrews 4:16)
Do we need to fear the likes of the KKK or ISIS (same people just different costumes) or anyone using violence to be heard and control others? Only if we join them by condemning one another, dividing the body with criticism, and by not giving what has been given to us–LOVE and FORGIVENESS and GRACE and COMPASSION.
Is there any reason to fear if our eternity is secure? NONE!
Would the followers of Christ ever face death for His sake. Yes. I would rather follow Christ into heaven than Satan into hell. Count the cost. Jesus counted the cost and said you were worth the price of His life. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil. But listen to what John Wesley preached, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God , and I care not whether they be a clergyman or a layman, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the Earth.”
This is the life insurance policy that accompanies the Great Commission.
Treading with you,
Yvonne
