Fear and Trepidation
03/02/08 21:55
As
if terrorism, global warming, and the depletion of
the ozone wasn’t enough to put fear into us; as
if random violence, home invasions and car-jackings
weren’t enough to worry us; we now have to deal
with runaway spy satellites. Yes, folks, there is a
U.S. spy satellite that, at this moment, is out of
control and expected to hit the earth sometime in
February or March! Coming to a neighborhood near
you… or maybe your neighborhood. Think about
it; what if you were just heading out for the day
and… SPLAT! Worry, fear and trepidation
consume some; when St. Paul warned us about the
perilous last days he never said anything about spy
satellites! Anxiety is permeating our societies and
fear has closed us in on every side. The world is in
a state of fear and trepidation. What is going to
happen next? Will it be a global market crash? Or
perhaps it will be a new outbreak of some disease or
ailment. Maybe there will be an earthquake or another
devastating hurricane that will wipe out millions of
dollars worth of real estate and take out thousands
of lives. With all that could happen to me on this
earth and in this life, there is nothing more
troubling to me right now then what I am going
through. It is worse than all of these things that I
just spoke of; it must be, for nothing is greater on
my mind than this one thing. It must be, for I am not
worrying about any of those things right now. No, the
thing that has been pressing upon me for the last
couple of days, the one thing that has been troubling
me… I have to go to the dentist! UGH! I hate
going to the dentist. I hate the smell of the dentist
office. I hate the waiting in the reception area.
They should make that room soundproof. I
shouldn’t have to hear the dentist drill while
I am waiting to subject myself to the most inhumane
torture known to man!!! I’d rather be struck by
lightening. Maybe I’ll get lucky and that spy
satellite will fall early and right on the parking
lot as soon as I pull up! Did I tell you that I hate
going to the dentist?
Now, you’re probably wondering, “Pastor Jim, what on earth are you talking about? You’ve been to the dentist before. You’ve lived through the ordeal. You can handle it. For Pete’s sake, it’s just a dentist visit!” You know, you’re right! I’m not afraid of global warming, terrorism, home invasions or ozone depletion. I’m not even worried about some run away spy satellite. So, if I can handle those things (and I can only handle them because of Christ) I can handle a dentist visit. In fact, I think I can handle anything that this life dishes out. Yeah, that’s right; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Isn’t it funny, with all the terrible things that are going on in this world today, we fear most the little things that may or may not happen to us? We need to get a grip! Paul asks us rhetorically, “If God be for us, who may come against us?” and then he tells us emphatically, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Beloved, we have nothing to fear, our God is still on the Throne and He loves us with the greatest of love.
Now, you’re probably wondering, “Pastor Jim, what on earth are you talking about? You’ve been to the dentist before. You’ve lived through the ordeal. You can handle it. For Pete’s sake, it’s just a dentist visit!” You know, you’re right! I’m not afraid of global warming, terrorism, home invasions or ozone depletion. I’m not even worried about some run away spy satellite. So, if I can handle those things (and I can only handle them because of Christ) I can handle a dentist visit. In fact, I think I can handle anything that this life dishes out. Yeah, that’s right; I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Isn’t it funny, with all the terrible things that are going on in this world today, we fear most the little things that may or may not happen to us? We need to get a grip! Paul asks us rhetorically, “If God be for us, who may come against us?” and then he tells us emphatically, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Beloved, we have nothing to fear, our God is still on the Throne and He loves us with the greatest of love.
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