Freedom From Fear: A Priority for Christians
By Dr. R. Samuel Culvern
Sam is an emergency room physician at a hospital in metro Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife Pam and step-son Chase live in Madison, Ga.

Fear is an entity that Christians should not allow to creep into our lives. However, how many of us are so steeped in fear that we cannot recover our balance? This short statement comes on the heels of the staggering events that occurred in our land recently. As the hours and days have progressed from the eleventh of September, our country is trying desperately to regain its composure. We vacillate between disbelief and denial of it all to the nauseating truth of reality in this life. Pain and tears and then anger and bitterness set in. We fear that our life of freedom will be torn away from us, while we gradually become suspicious of anything that moves in the shadows.

I've described one terrible event, but look at the people who are suffering the most and how their strength literally rises out of the ashes. Does strength mean there is no pain during this awful trial for every person involved? There is pain and certainly doubts and fear that can stifle. While Christians generally profess faith in God's unconditional love, do we really believe this or opt instead to live in a house of fear? Look at all the "if" questions we raise from time to time; what will I do if I lose my job, or if I lose my health, or if war breaks out, or if my marriage doesn't work out, or if one of my family members dies? This list goes on forever with just a little imagination.

The answer will soon become obvious when we recall that nothing can separate us from the love of God; not fear, nor poor health, or even death. Considering all this, we ask the question "Where is my faith?"

My answer is that my faith is in Jesus who died on the Cross. He who knew no sin took on all of our sins. Christ fulfilled all of God's laws and through suffering became the perfect sacrifice to purchase redemption for the world. He exchanged His life for ours, so that we could become the righteousness of God.

As John the Baptist so aptly pointed out in John 1:29, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." I did not make Jesus the Lord of my life. God did. And because of that, Jesus abides in me and I in Him. Galatians 2:20 states: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me…." And again in 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear." For a description of who God is we can read 1 Corinthians, Ch.13. God is love.

So what can we say about trials and fear? What does that say about being ready, being prepared to deal with fear? How can we "be prepared" for Christ in our life? We can't work it out by ourselves. Even on a good day we'd get it all wrong. There is, however, one who can work out our lives. And that is Christ in us, our hope of glory. Either I can work out my life on my own, or I can give my life over to Him. It was Christ's faith that enables me to go boldly to the throne of grace. He is the author and finisher of faith. When I am faithless, he is faithful. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

<<Back to Archive

View for Printing

Contributors
Staff
Advertising
Internships

Send this Page to a Friend

Add Me to Mailing List