Fear. What an extraordinarily
powerful weapon in the devil's arsenal. He already has so much to use against us that we give him, why would we want to give him more?
I saw two interesting things
returning from a meeting with the guys at San Juan 10:10 just now. These things bring to mind interesting parallels about
our lives and how God sometimes does or doesn't help us because we do or don't allow him to.
The first was two kids on a bicycle,
an older boy of about 14 years riding on the back and a younger boy of about 7 on the seat, peddling and steering. Technically
speaking the younger boy was in control of the bicycle direction and speed and balance, while the older boy was observing
and kind of overseeing. They were riding along slowly as I approached from behind and the young boy who was driving,
hearing the noise coming behind him, turned 180° backwards to observe the danger. As soon as he turned his head in the
direction of the danger, what do you think happened? He immediately turned the bicycle involuntarily in the direction
of the danger. The very last thing he wanted to do! His passenger immediately took over, grabbing the handlebars
and steering the bicycle straight, out of the path of the oncoming vehicle and put his feet down to steady the bicycle and
its driver. The driver relinquished control, happy to have been saved from a difficult situation.
About five minutes later the
following happened. I was driving down my street approaching my home and as I slowed down a boy of about 7 on a bicycle
passed me. He had his feet off the pedals on the crossbar and was riding with no hands on the handlebars. He was
definitely showing the world that he was in control, afraid of nothing. Just as he passed me he hit a bump which knocked
his feet off the crossbar and as he grabbed for the handlebars he lost control and fell to the ground, hitting his head on
the cement. After making sure he was okay I gave him a ball and a tract and he was on his way, rubbing his head and
crying.
In the first illustration we
are on the bicycle steering and peddling and balancing our way down the streets of life. We have accepted a rider (Jesus
Christ) who occupies a place on our bicycle, a place of observing and overseeing. And, when necessary assisting.
When necessary; when we make the wrong choice or take the wrong road he can take control and help us out of our difficult
situation. As long as we relinquish control. Like Proverbs 3:5 says:
Pr 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
But if we insist on holding
our course against his guidance, without trusting in him and trying to fix it ourselves, we often end up in a bad situation
that we have made worse. It's the same with fear.
In the first example the boy
was afraid of the oncoming vehicle approaching from behind. He looked to the danger behind him which begot his fear,
and did precisely what he didn't want to do! He turned his bicycle into the path of the danger. Have you ever
walked on a curb? A curb that is level with the ground on the left side but is maybe a foot higher than the ground on
the right side. Which side do you fall towards when you lose your balance? Of course! To the side that you
don't want to fall towards, the one you are thinking about. Because your mind is powerful and when you think about something
a lot you begin to act or behave like what's in your mind. And if you think about a certain thing a lot you will eventually
be influenced that way.
God's Word tells us that God is love in 1 John 4:8, and then goes on to say:
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Since we have God through his
son Jesus, and since God is perfect and he is love, we have perfect love that casts out fear! We don't need to be afraid!
We need to realize that we have the power of God flowing through us through his son Jesus, and we don't need to fear.
That means we don't need to look back over our shoulder at the danger or think about falling off the wrong side of the curb
or what's going to happen tomorrow or how do I get out of this mess. If we just realize that Jesus is sitting right
behind us with his arms around our waist gently leaning to the left or the right as required, we need not fear. Because
we have the antidote to fear riding with us! Perfect love! Just pedal and steer as he guides you, exactly where
he wants you to go.
So the next time you hear that
car coming up behind you and the devil whispers in your ear, telling you to look behind you and be afraid, you just smile
and look straight forward where Jesus is directing you to go. You just tell the devil you are not going to fall for
his tricks, because he who is riding with you is greater than any danger or obstacle or problem you come upon. And keep
your mind on him as the song says:
Turn
your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of his glory and grace.
Oh, and one last thing.
About the other bicycle rider who didn't have Jesus riding behind him. He was just cruising down the road, confident
in his abilities and not needing help from anybody. He was a symbol of what the world calls a successful self-made self-sufficient
self-confident human being. A real man's man. And then he fell. What does he represent? One of several
possibilities:
1) A man riding a bicycle
steering and peddling and balancing his way down the streets of life. He has accepted a rider (Jesus Christ) who occupies
a place on his bicycle, a place of observing and overseeing. But when the time comes to give up control, he stubbornly
refuses, thinking he can take care of it himself.
2) A man riding a bicycle
steering and peddling and balancing his way down the streets of life. He has accepted no rider because he doesn't need
help. He thinks Jesus doesn't really exist (or does he) and that people who believe in him are weak and need a crutch
to get through life. He thinks it's foolish to have this imaginary friend. He doesn't want to be weak or foolish;
he is self-sufficient and self-confident. There is a verse from the Bible for him:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…
It is a beautiful verse for those
weak and foolish enough to follow Christ and find God. To understand the love of God that passes all understanding and
casts out fear. To trust in him; even when we don't understand.
