FAITH OR FEAR?

THE CHOICE IS OURS!

It's good news week.
Someone dropped a bomb somewhere contaminating atmosphere
and blackening the sky.
It's good news week.
Someone's found a way to give
the rotting dead a will to live, go on and never die..............

These are the opening words of a one-hit wonder song from 1965 called "It's Good News Week" by British band "Hedgehoppers Anonymous".

Or, who can remember the classic hit from Barry McGuire "Eve Of Destruction" - from 1965
The eastern world it is explodin', violence flarin', bullets loadin', 
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'

But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away
There'll be none to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy

But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.........

The 1960's was a tumultuous time with the Vietnam War looming large on the landscape throughout the decade. Early in the 60's the Cuban Missile crisis was a cause for much fear and foreboding. This was the time of the Cold War. 

Fast forward fifty years, almost - to 2014. Guess what? The world news is not only still bad, but it is getting worse. The threat of communism seems largely to have gone, although new tensions have arisen between Russia and the West. In the intervening decades, we have seen numerous wars in Africa, Asia and parts of Europe with untold casualties and misery. We have seen economic crises on a grand scale. There have been catastrophic natural disasters in many parts of the world, again leaving trails of destruction and human misery. There have been disease pandemics or threats of the same.
As of writing this, the Ebola threat is increasing, creating fear in many, not only in the West Africa nations hit most by this deadly virus, but in countries around the world where there is a growing fear that travellers from these affected areas may return to, unwittingly be bearers of this terrible infection, from which those affected have a very high chance of not surviving.
The scourge of the evil ideology of radical Islam has taken prominence as the major protagonist threatening world peace, even though Islam is touted by its followers as a religion of peace. Peace to the Muslim, at least, to the radical Muslim, is submission to Allah, their false God - forced conversion to Islam, or death to the infidel as the alternative. Oh, what peace!?!?!
Perhaps what should be an even greater cause for fear is the god of Political Correctness that the majority (apparently) of our politicians at a federal and state level, as well the bulk of the MSM (Main Stream Media) bow down to, bending over backwards to not offend Muslims, and the other radical main player today, the homosexual activists, who are waging a relentless war against the traditional definition of marriage and the nuclear family unit, headed by a mother and father, as in woman and man. Ultimately this is a Satan-inspired war on Christians and the eternal unchanging Word of the Living God. As the Apostle Paul proclaimed in Romans 1, the sin of homosexuality is "exchanging the truth of God for the lie, and worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. (Homosexual practice). END OF STORY!
Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God, speaking prophetically of the times in which we are living, said in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24: "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming,'I am the Messiah'. They will deceive many. and you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14 New Living Translation.

For the true Christian, a modern day disciple of Christ, who takes the Bible, the wholly Holy Spirit-inspired Word of the Living God as his manual for living - this is not a time for fear, for giving in to dread or terror. This is the time we have been born for, when the world is in the deepest darkness, we as part of the Body of Christ, the Christian Church have been called and equipped to shine like the stars in the universe, to march forth as an army with banners, proclaiming : Jesus Is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
The Christian is not to fear man or circumstance. We are to fear God and Him only - Godly fear being reverent awe of the One who has saved us from Satan's realm of darkness that we might be bearers of Light drawing the lost to our Saviour.

King David boldly proclaimed in Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my salvation; 
                                                                           Whom shall I fear?
                                                                           The Lord is the strength of my life;
                                                                            Of whom shall I be afraid?

                                                                            Though an army may encamp against me,
                                                                             My heart shall not fear;
                                                                             Though war may rise against me,
                                                                             In this I will be confident.
                                                                             For in the time of trouble,
                                                                             He shall hide me in His pavillion;
                                                                             In the secret place of His tabernacle
                                                                             He shall hide me;
                                                                             He shall set me high upon a rock. (vs.1,3,5)

The prophet Isaiah wrote encouraging the people of God:
                                                                           The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
                                                                            Let Him be your fear, 
                                                                            And let Him be your dread. Isaiah 8:13
Again in Isaiah 35:3,4, the prophet writes: Strengthen the weak hands,
                                                                            And make firm the feeble knees.
                                                                            Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
                                                                            "Be strong, do not fear!
                                                                             Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
                                                                             With the recompense of God;
                                                                             He will come and save you."

God is calling forth an army of worshipping warriors, who are full of faith in the Living God, whose lives have been ransomed from the clutches of Hell by the blood of Jesus who died on the Cross of Calvary and rose triumphant from the grave, and ascended in victory over hell and death to be seated at the right hand of the Father, to ever live to make intercession for the saints - the true followers of the Lord, soldiers of the Cross who walk by faith, knowing that their lives are in His hands. 

I don't know about you, but I want to be a part of that army of believers who runs to the battle, and not away from it in cringing fear - but full of faith in the One who is able to "rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 NIV.