Fear not !

Our society is broken. We have schools out of control, leaders in confusion, a collapsing banking system, stretching unemployment, unrealistic social programs, and a total collapse of moral values. And to top it off, the earth could be on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe. To summarize, things seem to be getting out of control.

How can Christians stand firm in the midst of all this chaos ? The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews answers : We must see Jesus in everything that happens in our lives (see Hebrews 2: 9).

Some may wonder : "How could the Lord be in all this ? So many things in my life seem to me out of control. "Let me show you an example in Scripture. I'm talking about a man whose world was upside down, shaken by chaos, shaking the very foundations of his faith. Yet in the midst of all this he saw the Lord.

In this hour of great trial, the apostle Stephen stood, calm, while a crowd of people who hated Christ surrounded him, armed with stones and ready to put him to death. Etienne knew that he had only a few minutes left to live - yet he was filled with peace and calm. What was the secret of this man's endurance ?

At this moment, Stephen testified : "Behold, I see the heavens open, and [Jesus] stand at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). He kept his eyes fixed on Jesus only. He could face a frightful death knowing that Jesus was with him in all this.

I am convinced that the example of Stephen contains a very important thing for those who love and serve the Lord. Here it is : when we really see Jesus in the midst of our afflictions and difficulties, we will always hear him say : "Fear not !"

David Wilkerson