Who’s afraid of the big bad world? - 23 March 2010 |
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One of the besetting sins of Christians today is fear. Fear of the sinful world. We’re surrounded by worldliness, and it makes us afraid.
This fear leads to pessimism – pessimism about the power of God, pessimism about the advance of the gospel, pessimism about the future of the church.
Isn’t it ironic. The gospel confronts the world – and Christians get scared.
Ps 48 tells a different story. The kings of the earth “assembled,” and then they saw the Holy Mountain of the LORD – Zion, God’s city, where the Lord Jesus Christ is enthroned. Listen to their reaction:
5 They were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. 6 Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labour. 7 By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever.
Psalm 48 says that the kings of the world are afraid of the LORD, not the other way round. And with good reason, for God has “shattered the ships of Tarshish,” and will establish his city forever (vv. 7-8).
The Bible says that Jesus Christ conquered the world at the cross, and that Jesus is now is conquering the world through the gospel.
You have nothing to be afraid of.
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Exhortations before confession, Minister's Blog