With all that is happening in the world, it is easy to be fearful. Fearful of sickness, fear of disaster, hardships, finances, unknown threats, each other, and even death. Currently, we are seeing people lashing out against each other more and more. Fighting those on the other side of the aisle, fighting those on the same side, and even against those who should be their closest friends.
Let’s be honest; you don’t want to admit when you are afraid. But the truth is everyone is fearful of something, and this is due to sin. The problem is that sin and wrongdoing run rampant. Many lash out due to a judgment they have made against others, living by their own standards instead of fearing God and His Law. Maybe you didn’t realize that fear comes from guilt due to breaking God’s Law, which is sin.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2
There is a higher set of standards, the standards God has established. Different from the constantly changing set of rules most people make for themselves. God has given you a conscience to know right and wrong, and fear comes because you have committed crimes against the Lord. An unconscious fear comes because Hell and death wait for the guilty.
Outwardly you may seem strong. But inside, you may have crumbled in fear of your pains, sorrows, and traumas and are searching for a way out. You don’t want to think of death because it gives you a chill of fear that goes straight to your soul. Your spirit knows you have done wrong, and fear is the natural response. Have you heard the verse, “for the wages of sin is death?” Yet, understanding this fear is good; it drives one away from danger.
God has given you this fear that you may seek after Him. He has given you a conscience that you may have no excuse for the wrong that you have done. He has put eternity in your heart so you would fear death and turn to Him. I am here to tell you that there is hope for a good future and escape from all the fears of this life and death. There is hope for you, for your eternity. There is a Heaven and a God who created it all. Yes, there is hope and a way to live without fear.
The deepest desires of mankind are to be accepted. To be loved and cared for and to have peace and security. But there is a serious problem called sin. Everyone has committed a lifetime of sins. If you were to see the book written about your life, you would be shocked at the list of lies that you have told.
You would be astonished at the list of thefts, thoughts, and actions of hatred, murder, coveting, lust, adultery, disobedience to your parents, cheating, deceitfulness, and outright rebellion against a God who created you, loves you and gave you life.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Some day you will die and have to stand before the Creator of the Universe, and He will judge you by the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20) He will find you guilty, just like a good judge here. He will not be able to overlook your crimes for the good that you have done. But He will have to give you punishment for your crimes.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. Hebrews 9:27-28
The truth is, just as a crime brings a just punishment. So likewise, sins against God bring a just compensation. Remember I told you about this verse? “For the wages of sin is death.” This is why you have fear. But that is not all of it.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Do not be in despair; there is hope. Keep reading and have faith in this truth. God has made a way to save you from fear, sin, and death. But you must place your fear upon the right thing. You must put your faith in Jesus Christ and believe in Him for what He has done for you. If you fear God, it will cause you to turn from sin, and then He will forgive you through your repentance and devotion to obey His commands.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him(God), who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
God sent His son Jesus Christ to earth to die for sinners like you and me. He lived a perfect life and sacrificed His life for yours. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to life three days later. In this way, He defeated sin and death. He defeated sin because He never sinned and death because He raised from the grave, having power over both.
God loves you even though you are a lawbreaker, a criminal in His sight. He loves you and desires to grant you mercy, grace, and forgiveness. His love for you is boundless.
For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die— but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
What God requires from you is to turn away from your life of sin with repentance. To feel remorse and godly sorrow for your sins, turn to Jesus to believe, trust, follow, and put your faith in Him. Cast all your cares upon Him because He loves you.
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled. Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago. Acts 3:18-21
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18
How gracious and merciful the Lord is towards you. That He would give you so much time to repent, this may be the first time you have heard of the good news of Jesus Christ and His love for you, or you have heard it before.
Yet, the Lord has given you another chance to turn to Him and believe in Him. He has brought you here today to hear this message. Please think about all of this. Think about how you have broken God’s Laws and will stand guilty before Him on Judgment Day. If you do not repent and believe in Jesus, He will give you an eternal sentence of Hell and punishment.
But if you choose life, believe in Jesus, righteousness, and repentance of your sins. He will grant you eternal life in Heaven and many joyous rewards for following and obeying His command.
You have earned your wages for your sins. But Jesus has paid your fine. God’s just retribution you deserve. But if you accept the gift, He wants to give you. He offers you new life and eternal destination through salvation only from Jesus Christ. So turn to Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. He promises to change you from the inside out, giving you a new heart and mind to desire righteousness instead of evil things.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:26-27
The Soul Sower 