It’s easy to say “don’t be afraid, God is with you”, in theory, but how does that play out in real life? Today there’s lots of things to be afraid of: terrorism, financial concerns, health issues, political incompetence & leadership issues, etc. For Baby-boomers like me, we can worry about our health, our retirement savings, our kids & grandkids and their future, and so on. And then there’s the Detroit Lions’ season…ah, that’s just too depressing! The point is, EVERY generation has gone through similar fears and circumstances, and each time God offers to us a bigger perspective on life that leads to peace and confidence that he is always with us, will never leave us, and has our future securely in his hands! But when God says “fear not”, it doesn’t mean your life will stay the same, that it will be easy, and that you won’t experience hardship. All of us as parents and grandparents want to pray for our families that they will be protected from evil, disease, and hardship, but we know the reality of this world is that it doesn’t always work out that way, even for the most faithful among us. Maybe we need to see things from God’s perspective, rather than just wishful thinking!

This time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the greatest good news humanity has ever experienced! The good news of Christmas is that God loved us enough to send his Son into our world to redeem us from sin, to change our hearts and empower us through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to live more like Jesus. Eventually, Jesus promises to bring us into an eternal Kingdom that we only get a little taste of now, but which will be fully experienced when he returns and establishes his Kingdom. The more difficult reality is to understand that this present world is still under the sway of evil, and we will never fully experience justice, fairness, and mercy until the new Kingdom fully arrives. So, mature Christians of every generation understand that this world is imperfect and temporary, and God’s desire is more to develop our character than to make us comfortable, and calls us to serve him sacrificially instead expecting him to fulfill our every wish and desire.

In the book of Hebrews, we see great examples of people who trusted in God and saw him do great things in their lives because of their faith (Hebrews 11). But in that same passage, we read of other faithful people who suffered greatly in life, but were strong in adversity because they knew God was with them and had something better for them waiting in the future!
Hebrews 11:35-40 (NIV) :
35… Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated– 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Then in chapter 12, we are encouraged to live our lives fearlessly and with courage, because those saints are watching us and rooting us on!
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Nobody in their right mind wants to go through suffering and face untimely death, but a healthy Christian understands that our bodies are temporary, but our souls are eternal! (Baby-boomers realize this every day as we deal with new aches, pains, and strange noises when we get up!) C.S. Lewis wisely stated “We don’t have a soul; we ARE a soul! We HAVE a body”. Jesus said: 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)

So, how are we to pray and live? Will I still pray for my kids & grandkids to be healthy, safe, and have fulfilling lives? You betcha! But I’m also not naive; I know the world is still under the control of the Evil One, and none of us are immune from that. What I will pray for, more passionately, is that my family all comes to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ! For when we begin that new life in Christ, we have Jesus’ promise to be with us always, and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to guide us, empower us, and make us more like Jesus every day. One of the most encouraging passages in scripture is one from Romans ch. 8, one which we pastors often share at funerals:
Romans 8:14-18, 31-35, 37-39 (NIV)
14 …those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.

Bottom line: don’t be afraid, brothers & sisters in Christ! We know the end of the story, and Jesus has already defeated Satan & evil. Ultimately, we have nothing to be afraid of! So live in this world, not seeking comfort, but seeking the compassionate heart of Jesus as we share hope and joy with a frightened, lost group of souls that Jesus died for and wants to have join us all in his Kingdom. Our mission is to care for them, forgive them, and invite them to trust in Jesus, so that they will join us in the amazing Kingdom of Jesus in the future. We have nothing to lose; the lost have everything to gain. Let’s be about our Father’s business!