Fear; that moment when your life seems at risk and nothing else in the world matters but your survival!!! Fear blinds reason, accentuates emotion and causes you to make choices that are sometimes totally irrational!!! Fear is on my mind today because a little four footed creature (Buddy, my sister-in-law's small poodle) put it there. I was awakened about 7am, by a gentle scratching on the bedroom door and immediately viewed a scared-out-of-his-mind "Buddy". He was shaking and running in all sorts of directions, unsure as what he should do next. Then, it thundered and he just stood there, looking at me, unable to move, just shaking all over. This from a dog who likes to attack animals four or five times his size. Next thing I noticed was that the lights were all on and from my wife's bedroom, I heard her say that my little friend had woke her up two hours earlier with his crying. Fear will make you do all sorts of things- like cause you to go down icy steps, even when its the last thing in the world you want to do. Or perhaps, just look at the problem in a zombie like state like the top dog in the above picture. The Bible speaks abundantly about this topic and the hardest thing for me to do was to just pick one instance to talk about, but here goes...
Matthew, Chapter 14
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Physical danger is something we all have been exposed to at one time or another. The moment you realize that it is serious is the time you have to make one of the choices that the second of the two pictures discusses. Peter, reached out to Jesus and was helped, but he lacked faith and almost sank into the depths of the sea. Then, he tried again and was saved from his impending doom by a merciful, understanding Jesus. THEN Peter understood!!! OK, this a situation specific example, but sooner or later we all will face death. Question: will you reach out to Jesus? Will you finally admit you need him to save YOUR LIFE??? DO NOT WAIT!!! Tomorrow may be too late; boldly face everything with HIS HELP and accept the eternal life that ONLY HE CAN OFFER!!! Choice is yours- please make the right one!!!! Jesus conquers F-E-A-R!!!!