Bold Fear
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1
I see what others are doing for the Lord and think I am too cowardly. Then I come across verses like this: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
The first seven verses of the chapter are wonderful promises about heaven but this verse (Revelation 21:8) is a warning that we expect for murderers and the sexually immoral, and all the rest; all except for cowards and the faithless. They are the unexpected on the list.
Yet there they are. None of them will see heaven.
I looked at what the Bible means by the word “coward” in this verse (Revelation 21:8) and it appears that he does not know God, there is nothing personal between them. His cowardice goes back to an unwillingness to place his faith in God. He does not trust God with any portion of his life, no less his eternal life. The whole list are people who would not proclaim Christ as King to anyone.
As believers, God gives us all different gifts. When I have a meal with my brother with evangelistic gifts he will be praying for (and with) a waitress before I have ordered something to drink. It looks bold to me. If you put me in front of a room full of women I will boldly tell you the truth of the scripture and sin. One on one I am likely to wait for that “perfect moment.”
It seems that many of us are more fearful in a given situation than we are cowardly in general. But what are we afraid of? Is it not the fear of man – or the fear that we might upset someone who is resting in her “goodness” to get her to heaven? I am grateful for those who took the time and faced their own perceived “risk” to point out my sin to me. It is painful to look at ourselves and recognize that without Jesus we are lost in our sin. However, the results for me are wonderful; I wanted out of that ugly mess and God saved me!
I can now read the first seven verses of Revelation 21 and rejoice that I will be there and will see it all. The Word of God has given me that assurance – not because of anything in me but because of everything about Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for my sin. (John 3:16).
But what about our earthly fears, now? They may not be faithlessness or cowardice, but we cannot ignore them. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me” (Hebrews 13:6)?
If we are fearful of being bold for the Lord, remember these three things from this verse: (1) Because the Lord is our Helper,(2) we do not have to be afraid (we can be bold), because (3) God is more powerful than man so man can do nothing to me.
Then, let’s be bold in our fear – of the Lord, not of man.