The other
day, while watching the local news, the reporter was interviewing an Australian
man who was a base jumper. For those who do not know what this “sport” is, they
are the brave souls who parachute off of shorter heights, such as cliffs etc.,
instead of going up in an airplane. There is a limited amount of time for that
parachute to open, so the shorter the distance up, the more likely the chute
may not have time to open fully enough to break their fall. This man was
scheduled to jump from the Liberty Memorial in K.C. MO. The reporter asked him
if he was afraid. He replied that he absolutely WAS afraid and appeared to be
so from his demeanor. Then she asked how he was able to control himself when he
was up there looking down, knowing the time element involved. He simply said,
“I am fearful every step of the way, until I am ready to jump and then I must
focus. When I am focusing on what is happening at that very moment, my thoughts
are concentrated on only what I am about to do. Fear is gone and Focus replaces
the fear.”
I couldn’t help but think how
our spiritual lives are much the same. We must have complete focus when we are
attempting to teach the Word of God to those who need it. There is no room for
fear that they may not like us, or fear that they might get angry. Instead, we
need to focus on what is the most important issue here – their eternal soul.
Whether we are dealing with someone who has never been taught, or with someone
who has gone astray, we are often fearful, and we should have a healthy fear;
one of respect for the power and authority of God’s Word. That should never be
taken lightly. The loss of one’s soul is of greater consequence than if we were
in danger of losing our physical life, for the soul will live eternally
somewhere – either with God in heaven or with the devil and his angels in
eternal damnation. Yes, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God,” (Hebrews 10:31). Thus, we need that focus to be able to help bring
others to Christ.
We need to be focused in our
own spiritual lives. There is no place for the fearful and unbelieving in the
kingdom of God. As a matter of fact, John tells us in Revelation 21:8 that
there is a place prepared for the fearful – the lake of fire which has been
prepared for the devil! The preceding verse tells us that those who overcome
will inherit eternal live and live with God. Where do you want to spend your
eternity? If you want a home in heaven with God to live in eternal bliss with Him,
there is no room for fear in your life; no room for fear of rejection when you
must speak the truth, no room for fear of taking the gospel to the lost, no
room for fear of lovingly letting a brother or sister know if they are in
error, no room to be fearful to serve Him daily and let your light shine in a
lost and dying world, whether it be in the workplace, school, the community or
wherever your steps may lead you.
John tells us in 1 John 4:18, “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Do you love God; completely love Him? That is what the apostle is saying. When
our love is perfect (complete; mature), we will not be fearful because we are
focused, totally focused on Him. This will take much study, a great deal of
prayer and a humble heart, but it can be done. Verse 17 of that same chapter
tells us that we can have boldness in the Day of Judgment, if we spend our
lives personifying the love of God to others. That’s what I want to do. And I
know that is what you want for yourself as well! So let’s get focused, ladies,
and make sure that we do not have a timid and fearful spirit that will keep us
from spending an eternity with heavenly Father. My prayer is that I would be
able to be with my Father, my Savior and the Holy Spirit, with all those
faithful brethren who have gone on to their reward, and to be with each and
everyone of you dear sisters. I just need to FOCUS.
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