Fear

HERE we have two visitors,— a little girl and her grandmother. But it does not look as though they came to this place very often, for the little girl seems quite timid and slow about shaking hands with the kind lady who is reaching out her hand. She does not feel acquainted. She does not know whether the lady will harm her or be good to her.
Children, like many kinds of young creatures are afraid of strangers because they fear being hurt. Even older people sometimes fear certain ones whose faces do not have a pleasant, kind expression. Angry looks repel us, but loving looks draw us.
But dear children, there is One Person whom we do not see, yet sometimes fear. Can you tell me who it is? I hear you say “God.” That is right. Now can you tell me why we are ever afraid of God? It is because we know that we have sinned—that our hearts are wicked and full of sin. We know that we deserve God’s anger and punishment for this sin and that we have no claim on His love. But God is love. God is merciful and He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us—to bear the punishment for our sins. If we accept Jesus as our Saviour, our sins are washed away in His precious blood and then God looks upon us as clean. We can approach Him as a loving Father.
But if we refuse the blessed Saviour, we may well stand in fear—in terrible fear of an angry God. For God will have no mercy on those who despise His blessed Son. He will punish them with an awful and eternal punishment.
To us who love Him, He says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee,” Isaiah 41:1010Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10). No matter what dangers and troubles threaten and surround us, we can tell God all about them and trust in Him to take care of us. Is not this far better and far happier than to be living in fear?
“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?” Psalms 27:11<<A Psalm of David.>> 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? (Psalm 27:1).
Messages of God’s Love 8/6/1911