Will They Worry?

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Matthew 10:28

 

There were a lot of people who were worried about COVID, some still are.  While the purpose here is not to tell people what precautions to take or not to take, there are some who are very fearful.

 

While going grocery shopping there is this friendly clerk at a local supermarket who wears a P100 mask, the kind with filters.  Certainly the fear of COVID is there, as she still wears it and quite honestly I feel sorry for her. 

 

There were those who fanned the flames of fear towards our society, in many cases grossly overexagerrating just how dangerous COVID was to the average person who was not old, nor with health problems.  So why is it possible for such fear-mongering to cause some to take extraordinary precautions? 

 

“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”  Hebrews 2:15

 

Simple, there is a fear of death.  While I am certain that there are some who would claim that they fear nothing, they do not fear death, they don’t care, and certainly there are those sorts, yet I would ask a question regarding those who have no fear of death:

 

Do you believe God?  Do you believe His Word the Bible?  Do you believe there is a Heaven and there is a Hell? 

 

Just today I had seen a survey taken that 8 out of 10 Americans fear a nuclear attack from Russia, if the United States somehow presses them into it.  They don’t want the rhetoric ratcheted up, they don’t want any involvement that would start an actual hot war between the United States and Russia.  You could certainly add me to the list of those who do not want a nuclear war.

 

Certainly the prospect of a nuclear war is a fearful thing.  It is fearful to those who live in major cities or an area where a strike is likely to happen, due to a military base or missile silos in the vicinity, yet the aftermath of what would happen throughout the country is certainly something that would end normalcy immediately. 

 

Then there are those, including a good friend who I spoke to, who are not worried about the prospect of nuclear war with Russia, as they stated that some of the Russian vehicles ran out of gas, so perhaps they would forget to put the centrifuge in or they wouldn’t have enough rocket fuel to make it over here.  Personally I don’t underestimate Russia’s ability to be able to launch nuclear weapons in an effective manner against their enemies. 

 

For those who do fear, do you also fear God?

 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10

 

“Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word;”… Isaiah 66:5a

 

The Two Witnesses prove that most will not tremble at His Word, nor will they fear God.  For just as there are some who wouldn’t worry about Russia’s capability, will they not worry during the Tribulation?

 

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.   And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”  Revelation 11:3-12

 

They will not have worried about what the Two Witnesses (prophets) had to say about repenting towards God and placing one’s faith into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, at least not when the Two Witnesses were alive.  But when the spirit of life from God enters into them and they ascend into Heaven, then those who see them will fear.

 

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Acts 20:21

 

Shouldn’t people worry about their sin and a holy God?  Should not fear take a hold of every man and woman who have not repented and believed the Gospel?

 

Listen to what John the Baptist said:

 

“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

 

Yet often when you talk to someone about Jesus Christ, when you talk about the things of God, they do not take it seriously.

 

The Bible says:

 

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  1st Corinthians 1:18

 

What of those who are afraid to seek the things of God, who are worried that they might be ridiculed or called names?  What of those who just refuse to fear God, whether or not they fear the current events that have been ongoing?

 

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

 

Now why should people fear?  Should they worry?  Certainly one should worry about your eternal destination.  For it is a sure thing that God created the heavens and the earth, as well as mankind (Genesis 1).

 

Consider the following:

 

“The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.”  Zechariah 12:1

 

People often times spend much time worrying.  Certainly there are things that are troubling, the price increases are certainly one. 

 

Consider that there are millions upon millions of Americans who do not earn a living wage.  These ridiculous price increases that all of us have to endure certainly make it hard to make ends meet. 

 

Where one might have had a more delectable meal, the sale items are certainly attractive and while it might not be what one would have wanted to eat for lunch or dinner, the price makes it reasonable. 

 

All of us are being affected by the higher gas prices.  Just the other day I had went for quite a drive and spent way too much for gas for the rockhounding trip that I had taken.  I then took a moment to see what the replacement cost for my truck would be and I was shocked that the price for the same vehicle had went up $7500 in one year!  This is not encouraging to take mini-road trips, even if I can afford the gas, I can’t afford the new truck.

 

Things seem to be very likely to get worse.  I clean buildings for a living and the price of a certain mop I use went from $9 to $23 dollars per mop, an increase that is incredible.  I did manage to find them from another source for $12 a mop, but in the future I will be stuck with the new pricing that is straight from the manufacturer. 

 

Yet even though these things are occurring and causing even more dramatic problems in places where poverty already abounded, they are minimum in comparison to what those who refused to repent, to those who refused to yield their lives to Jesus Christ will experience. 

 

You see, we might be in for some hard times in the future.  Certainly after the Rapture, the world will experience very difficult times, in fact the most difficult times ever faced on this earth (Matt. 24:22), with the exception of those who died in the Flood (Genesis 7:22).

 

Whether one can not worry about what is starting to look like hyperinflation, on a low level, or whether or not one has to forego the normalcy of life due to the rising prices makes little difference.  In the end all of us will die, except those who are Saved and Raptured (1 Thes. 4:16-17). 

 

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”… Hebrews 9:27

 

The problem is the second death, not the first.  For those who are in Christ will only experience the first, the world at large, the unsaved will experience the second death.

 

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15  

 

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Daniel 12:2

 

Certainly there are times in even a Believer’s life that there will be fear.  David expressed that in the Psalms.  The solution is different though, the solution is resting in Christ knowing that our times are in His hands.

 

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”  Psalms 56:3

 

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.  Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”  Psalms 46

 

“My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”  Psalms 31:15

 

For those who are unsaved, will they worry? 

 

What the future of this world holds, in terms of where pricing is going, whether the current war will or will not expand, whether or not a new disease or a new variant of COVID surfaces, makes little difference, we who are Believers can trust in the Lord.

 

Yet those who are unsaved should be worried.  Perhaps not a care is shed about Russia or COVID, perhaps they do not fear that they are no longer going to be able to pay all of their bills, perhaps their life appears to be great and they have the lifestyle that they always wanted, but in the end, without Christ, they have nothing.

 

There are those who are rich who hold lavish parties, often delving into sinful situations, but know this: there are riches that far surpass what those individuals might hold in terms of wealth, there are riches in this world, then there are the riches found in Christ Jesus, our Savior.

 

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”… Ephesians 3:8

 

For the majority of this world, there is often a fear of death and that invokes a search for things that might intervene, that might postpone death. 

 

“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?  They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.  For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.  Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.  This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.  Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.  But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.  Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.  Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.  He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.  Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.”  Psalms 49:5-20

 

Then what will they do?  While many a man will have thoughts throughout his life regarding death and where he will go when he dies, the proper thoughts would be turning towards the Light, repenting towards God and by faith accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior!

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

Dear reader, please do worry about your eternity, please do worry about Hell, please do worry about being separated from God Almighty and please repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. 

 

For if you do, then henceforth you will be able to live your life knowing that whatever happens:

 

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”  2nd Corinthians 5:8-11

 

 

Amen!