Why Are You Afraid?

In many places, the Bible says, "Don't be afraid."

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 

The Christian life is a life that's meant to be lived unafraid.  The gospel message brings peace and comfort to the anxious soul.  Yet I've heard messages recently that could and probably were meant to make me afraid.

I've heard that this pandemic is being used to bring us to a one-world government that will further control our lives.  I've heard that soon we'll all be required to get an identifying tattoo or an embedded chip that contains information about us.  

The message is a warning to Christians.  And that message is, "Beware.  This is the mark of the beast.  It's coming."  

Now I don't discount that there's evil in the world, that demonic forces are at work, and that governments want to control how people live and think.  But this is just fear-mongering, because it's an incomplete message.

First, our Lord has given us governments and rulers to keep order in society.  And we have to live and navigate within that realm.  Often the rule we live under is unfair, oppressive, and hard for the Christian.  But again, the Lord is in control; He's not oblivious to this, and He gives us faith to make it through.

But second and more importantly, my salvation doesn't hinge on my being able to figure-out the "mark of the beast."  In my baptism, I was marked and sealed as a child of God.  That's my mark.

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

My salvation is secure with the cross, the empty tomb, and the risen Jesus - my Lord, the One who's ascended to the throne of power.  That's my faith, my hope, and my comfort.

This whole tattoo/chip idea reminds me of years ago, when entering a theme park, how you'd get an invisible ink stamp on your hand so that you could reenter the park.  And this "mark" didn't and doesn't affect my soul or change my heart. 

But faith in Jesus has and does affect my soul.  Jesus referred to the Jewish leaders as "white-washed tombs."  On the outside, they looked good; but on the inside, they had a heart of stone.  It's their heart that was marked.

And my Lord looks at my heart.  It's a sinful heart that He's taken and pierced with His Word of truth, with the reality of my sin and the comfort and the reassurance of His forgiveness and love.  He's taken my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh.  And He's said, "Fear not."

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  John 14:27