I am scared of the dark. Yep. It is true. Some people do not believe me, but I am afraid of going out after dark and there being something just beyond my sight, waiting to devour me. So much so that when I come home after dark, from work, I calmly walk onto the porch and then with all the speed I can muster in the last 10 feet, I push through the door and slam it closed behind me. Fact: Closed doors keep all scary things out.
I am also afraid of being alone. Yes I say often and I do mean it, that I hate people. I cant stand stupid people, stupid drivers, and I really do wish I could have the road all to myself, or to a few dozen people that know how to drive. But I don't really want people to disappear. I fear the loneliness of being... well alone. I don't want to be alone, I just want a better class of people around me. Ones more like me than like the dumb driver who starts pulling onto the circle before I am even at the intersection and have to wonder if he is going to sideswipe me.
I am afraid of being uncomfortable. I am 'Murikin! I deserve to be comfortable, I deserve my foods on the tables, the womens cooking it all day, all the while, cleaning the house! Ok I am joking about that last bit, but I am afraid of not having my comforts that I have grown to enjoy and love. I am afraid of not having a home to rest in. Afraid of uncertainty and instability. But that maybe is where there is the biggest problem among Christians in 'Murika. Maybe we have grown too comfortable and placid with where we are.
Imagine if David was afraid. Well, though the Bible doesn't say so, I bet David was pretty darn afraid when he walked out onto the field with a slingshot and some stones to face down Goliath. There stood Goliath, a giant among a battlefield of men, a great warrior among his people, and across from him, stood a boy, with no weapons but a slingshot. It wasn't even a slingshot, it was just a sling. I bet Goliath was pretty sure who was going to be the dead one in a few minutes.
I bet David's heart was racing. Fear I am sure kept nudging him, "Dude, you should at least get some armor. Man, why don't you have a sword, or spear, heck even a hammer?" I bet there were tons of thoughts in David's head trying to stop him from going out on that field that day.
What would have happened if David had been too afraid to go fight? The Philistines might have beat the Hebrews in battle that day. God would surely not have shown so brightly before the rest of the world. God might have been thought of as a joke, much like people now think he is.
What if Daniel was afraid to speak the truth to the king? The king had been killing his 'wise men' because they were not able to interpret the dreams he was having. He was angry when Daniel had heard about this and asked God to reveal the dream and what it meant, so that he could tell the king. What if Daniel had been afraid to ask to see the king? Kept silent while the king was killing men over and over. God would not have been glorified, and Nebuchadnezzar would not have proclaimed Daniel's God to be God of gods.
What would happen if you were so afraid to lose your comforts, your toys, your house, or worse, your life? What might happen? Would people continue to die, not hearing about the only God who can truly save them? Stay in bondage and miserable instead of knowing a God who can give them freedom and joy? How would God's glory be shown among the nations? How will our kings ever proclaim, God is God of gods.
My fear of the dark is small, and insignificant compared to the fear of going out there and telling every man, women, boy and girl about Jesus. If I told one person, who truly got it, truly loved it, truly lived it, then if that shadow in the dark devoured me, how more amazing would life be?
What I have said is hard. Believe me, I am terrified of having to be out there, with strangers that hate me just because I am a Christian, and telling them of Jesus, but it needs to be done. I do not want to lose a thing that I have, but Jesus has told me to give them all to him already, why do I keep holding on? I am not a brave man, but I know my God's love is so much greater than anything else. We are not called, but commanded to go out there to all nations and share the good news that is Jesus.
It is the fear that keeps us here. Fear that keeps us settled in our church pews, enjoying one hour of idle worship a week. It is fear that keeps a wall between those who do not go to church and those that do. It is fear that keeps Christians from being strong like Joshua, brave like David, wise like Solomon, patient like Moses, faithful like Abraham, enduring like Noah, bold like Elijah, devoted like Daniel, and a teacher like Paul. Fear keeps us from being like our namesake, Christ Jesus.
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10
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