What is the greatest danger you face? Is it earthly well-being, health, or physical security? That ignores the spiritual reality that the Lord presents to us: “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). This is a matter of the first commandment.
Fear is a matter of respect. Whatever we fear the most is the most dangerous and powerful thing to us. We called to fear the true God above all things—even above every human fear: “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” That means for us, and our families, as well. Even well-meaning idolatry is still disbelief and does not honor Christ as Lord over very principality and power.
The problem is not taking wise precautions but a matter of our hearts before God. Safety and trouble-free existence are illusions in Satan’s domain. Real safety is in Christ—trusting the resurrection to come. But we think our precautions are better than the Lord’s. We are told life is too precious to risk, but death is unavoidable. Every sinner born faces the death penalty for his sin—so safety is not-so-subtly pitted against living. We cannot defeat every effect of death, but we can rest in the total defeat of death in Christ, who died and rose for all mankind.
We cannot avoid persecution or proactively go after our enemies to prevent all problems. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:44-45). We are to be like Christ—who did not slap Pilate and rage against the Pharisees and Sadducees who enabled false testimony. No, He died like a helpless sheep for you in holiness. Don’t try to be stronger and bolder than our Lord in His humiliation. If we try to achieve glory on our own, it undermines the victory Christ already won. Our strength is in confessing Christ boldly—not worldly achievements right now. We dare not live by sight—neglecting the faith that delivers us from all sins.
Our treasure is not on earth but heaven—with Christ. So do not seek to preserve anything on earth more than we fear God’s justice—not even your own body. We are safe with Christ; nothing that happens to our body will undo what Christ accomplished on the cross. To hold onto a sinful, cursed existence tightly is satanic selfishness to the extreme. This gets the nature and heart of faith: do we trust the Lord to work good in this evil world—especially in our own lives that seem non-ideal? We must submit to the cross we are given to bear as we hold the cross of Christ by faith that gives us all hope and light in our God’s sacrifice.
Be safe and wise but do not worship a man-made idea of safety. Our treasure is eternal and cannot be taken from us, even by those who would take our lives. Passivity and trust always seem weak and insufficient, but the weakness of God in Christ is stronger than all man’s precautions. We suffer in the strength and victory of our God over all sin and evil. Learn from Christ what true strength is: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). Our strength is despised in this world, but fear the Father above every earthly tribulation.
So Scripture reiterates that we do not establish God’s kingdom by our might—it is done by Christ alone. Jesus told Peter after he tried to prevent Jesus’ arrest by violence, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52). We do not prevent death by our deeds. Rather, the good news of Christ gives us life beyond death—a life over eternal death, punishment, and all violence. That is why we fear God—who does not give us what our souls deserve. All punishment has already been poured out on Jesus, who became our sin and the curse for us. So live without earthly fear, knowing that Jesus is Lord over every bad and corrupted thing. Idolatry is most dangerous—turning away from the fear of true God and His gracious protection and blessedness. Amen. –ed.
