I am struck this morning by how many people are living in fear. 

For some, it’s a definite, identifiable “thing.” Others, it’s just a general sense of being afraid.

Consider this. COVID is still hanging around, although it seems to be on the decline, thank you, Jesus. Sure, there are those out there who sound the alarm over some new variant, some new precaution, some new mandate (yuck. But in my neck of the woods, I’m hearing a resounding “so what?”) 

At any rate, the virus, and all that surrounds it, are working on folks who are living in fear. 

It might be fear of the virus itself. It has killed people. So people living in fear of the virus might take steps to protect themselves that others think are nonsense.

There, too, is the fear of vaccines. Some of those living in fear of vaccines think the science isn’t settled, that there is some nefarious global conspiracy, or other thoughts.

Depending on which side you come down on, the truth is that there are those living in fear no matter what the other side says. Who’s right? Beats me, but that’s not the point.

Point is – people are scared.

There are plenty of other Very Bad Things that can cause folks to live in fear.

• Ukraine. While if you are “safe” in the relative isolation of our country – at least, you don’t see evidence that Russia is about to invade your town – there are Ukrainians who are being systematically annihilated. That’s genuinely scary. 
• The economy. People, I’m just about at a place where I’m going to need to take out a second mortgage just to pay for food and gas. I went to buy a pound of ground beef yesterday, and thought I’d need an armed escort to walk me back to the car. I was afraid I’d be mugged for meat and it would then be sold on the black market.
• Morals. Just when I think it can’t get worse, I’ll be danged – it can, and it does. The values I grew up with are routinely spurned, if not ridiculed. Gender issues? I don’t know where to even start. It flies in the face of rational thinking. Celebrating sin? I see that all the time. How folks can be proud of being perverse is beyond me, but hey, I’m a dinosaur, right? 

All that’s to say … maybe you’re living in fear. As God is my witness, I am here to say to you: That is not of God.

A couple of distinctions, however.

• There is a difference in fear and legitimate concern. There are irrational fears, certainly. As I write this, we are anticipating our weekly round of tornadic weather. Ah, the joys of living in Mississippi! This is the fourth week in a row. But I am not afraid. Being scared isn’t helpful. I can be concerned, because concern will take me to a place of prudence and caution. I’ll watch our weathercasts, and do what I need to do to be safe. See the difference? 
• Concern moves you to positive, practical actions. Fear settles into your bone marrow and slowly makes you crazy.

This may sound clinical and cold, but it can help simply to play the odds. The odds are extraordinarily good that we won’t be wiped out by a tornado. I’ve heard people say, regarding the COVID vaccine, “People have died from that!” My response? “Not that many.” I mean, what am I supposed to say? (There’s a little snark there on my part. Maybe you need to add me to your prayer list.)

All this setup about living in fear gives me all the reason I need to give you hope and encouragement.

I expect some of the most fearful people in all the Bible were Jesus’ disciples after the crucifixion. These poor hapless guys. They’d spent literally years with Jesus, saw a lot of amazing things (healings? People being raised from the dead? You know, just typical occurrences in the first century.) He even made this audacious claim that after three days in a tomb He’d come back to life. 

The disciples knew all this. It didn’t sink in. Maybe they thought He was speaking metaphorically. 

Because, when He was arrested, they bolted and ran. At the crucifixion itself, I’m guessing some of them felt close to despair. They deserted Him because they were flat-out scared, and the best some of them could manage while Jesus was on the cross was to watch from a distance. And after all that, we see the disciples all scrunched up together, behind locked doors because they were afraid. Living in fear, as it were. Muttering things like, “Well, that didn’t go like it was supposed to.”

Then Jesus busts up right in the middle of them. Boo-yah! That scared them, too, but they ended up rejoicing. (Is that a lesson for us or what?)

After the resurrection came the ascension. 

At this point, I’m gonna admit to being lazy and instead of the research I should do, I’m going to rely on my admittedly porous memory.

I can’t recall a single time in scripture – specifically in Acts – where there was any word or evidence that would lead me to believe the disciples were living in fear any more. (Feel free to correct me.)

It’s apparent. Experiencing the resurrection eliminated fear. 

Want me to belabor the obvious? 

In light of the resurrection, which this year we celebrate on April 17, we don’t need to be living in fear any more. The fear of death has been removed. Since that’s the big one, then it stands to reason we don’t have anything else to be afraid of, either.

This is easier said than done, of course. Still, the banishment of fear comes with a complete identification with Jesus Christ and the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. As in all things in life, you don’t have to face your fears alone. 

The tomb is empty and the throne is occupied. O be joyful.

Talk soon!