Misplaced Fear

"I tell you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"—Luke 12:4-5

Are you afraid of death? I would venture to say that most of us are, because death represents the unknown. It is the great equalizer. Those who say they do not fear death are either woefully ignorant or deceived—that is, unless they understand who God is. I have been at many funerals and at the bedside of men taking their last breath, and I can honestly say that our world has taken a very cavalier approach to death. It amazes me how someone can step into eternity vainly believing they are entering in on their own terms.

Jesus tells us that we don’t need to worry about what man can do to us. Man can only kill us. And according to Jesus, that’s not the thing to worry about; it’s what comes after that—judgment. As it says in the book of Hebrews, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment”—Hebrews 9:27. And there is only one who has the ability to judge us—God. God will judge us all, every single person who has ever drawn breath. And He will judge us through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him”—John 5:22-23.

And again:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment”—John 5:25-29.

Whom are we to fear? We are to fear the Son of God! He is the one to whom God the Father has entrusted judgment. He is the one who will come at the end of time in all of His glory, warring and making war (Revelation 19:15). He came the first time as the suffering servant and will come the second time as the conquering King. Our fear should be of Him. We should love, adore, and fear Him. The idea of fearing Jesus might be strange to some, but that is exactly what Jesus wanted us to understand. If we aren’t willing to recognize and follow Him as the suffering servant, then we must be prepared to see Him as the conquering King.

Jesus will judge. And His judgment will be thorough, impartial, complete and final. There will be no appeals, no second chances, no do-overs. But, some may ask—what will His criteria be for judgment? His criteria will be in accordance with His Word, and what man has done with what God has provided for man—that is, has man accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of the universe who died in their place so that by trusting in Him, they might be saved from God’s wrath? If so, then that man or woman has passed through the judgment, because God has already judged him or her in Christ (cf. John 5:24).

My brother or sister, if you have repented of your sin and placed your faith in Christ, you will not have to worry about the Great White Throne of judgment! But, my friend, if you are reading this and have not yet placed your trust in Him, then you should fear! Judgment will happen—it’s just a matter of timing. Don’t think that you will be able to escape! You won’t unless you have trusted in Jesus and what He has done!

May we all have a proper fear of God, trusting in Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (cf. Hebrews 12:2). May we bow at His feet in humble submission and adoration, knowing that justice will be meted out in complete purity, mercy and love, through the one who gave His life for us—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.