Matthew 10:28 (KJV)
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Gill writes, “The taking away of the lives of good men is of no disadvantage to them; but sends them the sooner out of this troublesome world to their Father's house, to partake of those joys that will never end; so that they have nothing to fear.”
I’m struck by the seeming impossibility of this exhortation: “Fear them not which kill the body.” Even among those of us who have the promise of heaven, there is still the natural fear of death and, by extension, fear of those who might bring it about. Yet men have overcome this fear, as I understand it, in one of two ways:
In wartime situations, they come to accept it.
Unable to escape their circumstances, they follow orders and resign themselves to death as part of their reality.
In very dangerous occupations, they place their trust in training and equipment.
The fireman, the construction worker, and the bull rider (though these professions are not on equal footing, they are equally dangerous) each confront the fear inherent in their work through reliance on protective devices, specialized training, and the team around them.
Still, the fear remains real.
Jesus exhorts believers instead to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” He teaches us to overcome our fear of the first[1] by our fear of the second.[2]
This perspective has largely been eroded in modern Christianity by a theology that minimizes the fear of God and assumes that practically everyone is safe from the danger of hell. While it is true that the Christian need never fear being cast into hell, he ought to deeply fear it for his brother, his neighbor, and his fellow man.
Fear for his neighbor has led to the saving of countless souls from hell and caused countless others to an untimely death. But for the believer who knows his Bible, is aware of his surroundings, and who explicitly trusts his Saviour, the fear of death is overcome by His faith in the other.
#FearNot #FaithOverFear #EternalPerspective #TrustInGod #BiblicalTruth
The Christian’s Call to Courage: Faith That Conquers Fear of Death
[1] Those who kill the body.
[2] God, who has authority over eternity.
Are you living in fear, or are you standing firm in faith? Take a moment today to meditate on Matthew 10:28 and how it applies to your life. Find biblical truths and practical steps for fearless living—visit marvinmckenzie.org.
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