Faith or Fear?

Faith or Fear for the title to a thanksgiving blog post? If you continue reading I believe you will discover that it makes sense.

1.} I'm thankful that I do not need to fear December 21, 2012. In case you haven't heard any of the "prophecies" regarding that date, you can check it out here. Briefly stated, some persons are saying that on December 21, 2012 the world will come to an end. On the link I gave you above this is tied to an ancient people who seemed to have insight to many events that were to come. Since the date above marks the end of their calendar, along with their "prophecy" that the world would end then, these pseudo-prophets are saying that the world as we now know it will indeed end. As I read my Bible I don't find the world as we know it ending that way. You can check that out by turning to 2 Peter 3:3-14. My faith is in the Word of God, not in some ancient group of people who lived in Mexico or Central America. Sadly, many people will believe these so called prophets and become fearful - I suppose a bit like those who thought something really bad was going to happen on January 1, 2000.

2.} I'm thankful that I do not need to fear a terrorist attack. That's not to say that another one won't happen, perhaps even much worse that 9/11. To be sure some kind of terrorist attack could be unnerving to say the least. But fearing a great catastrophy in this country is not in the books for me. Check out these verses, which I have read many, many times when ministering to people who were facing a crisis, or even death: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging" (Psalm 46:1-3). Terrorists cannot turn the mountains upside down, but they are capable of destroying life as we know it. Jesus questions, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8). Will you be faithful, will I?

3.} I'm thankful that I do not need to fear death at all. Death for me will be the transition from a temporal life to eternal life with God. Many hymns speak of this in terms such as "crossing Jordan," or "passing through the veil," as well as many other such terms. Some fear the dying process but not what comes after this life is over. Some fear a long, painful, or perhaps lonely existence before death comes, such as alzheimers disease or perhaps parkinsons or MS. Overcoming these kind of fears may not be easy by any means. Listening to good hymns or uplifting christian music, or by reading, or having read, the scripture daily, along with prayer, can all be a means of maintaining our focus on the Lord rather than on our physical or mental conditon.

Fear or faith - which will it be for you. We can choose which it will be. I hope we can all make the right choice.

Pilgrim on the way