Luke 12:4-5 – “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” NKJV

There have been a few times in my life when I can honestly say that I “feared a man.”  Oh, I still have trepidation in the presence of some people but even with the possibility of that individual taking my life in the natural I “no longer fear them.”  They may assault me or do harmful things to me physically, financially, emotionally, psychologically, or some other way but even if they kill me that’s all they can do.  They have no further power over me.

On the other hand, there is one that after He has allowed the “death angel” to come and my life is snuffed out in the natural that One has the power to determine my eternal destiny, Him, I fear!  Not with a “fear” as in terror but in reverence.  I give Him the honor and reverence that He rightfully deserves knowing that He not only “knows” all things, but He “sees” all things, and has “all power.”  That One is God! He and He only do I fear in the Biblical definition of that fear!

We are living in times when it is not safe to walk down the street without concern of being accosted, mugged, robbed, assaulted, or abused in some manner. Accousted or assaulted by ruffians who would go beyond moral decency and do the despicable things that they do in their lawlessness and that will get worse in the days to come.  Yet, we need not fear them because they can do nothing more than send us home early if we are Christians.  If we are not, then by all means fear them because they will send you before the one that holds your eternity in His hands, and you will go there unprepared.

What is the motivation for this devotional? Simply to encourage everyone to prepare their hearts to live each day as if that day was your last on this earth.  Live as if in the next minute you would find yourself standing before God in heaven to answer for your life here on earth.  Live as if there were no tomorrow for you.  If you live in that manner, then you live Free from Fear and live in anticipation of the day of your promotion to a Higher Life in Eternity. 

That condition and confidence is a source of strength that shakes even the most villainous of people that you encounter.  They truly do not know how to respond to someone who Lives without Fear! 

It is also a witnessing tool and I’ve seen the time when my Lack of Fear because of my position, condition, and relationship with the LORD afforded me.  I’ve had incredibly mean-spirited people threaten me physically and when they found that I did not tremble in their presence that frequently opened the door for me to tell them why and on a few occasions resulted in their conversion. 

So, as you go through each day go through it with the confidence that your eternity is settled, and therefore man can do nothing more than send, you to your eternal reward early and nothing more.  Living above the plane of fear is a beautiful place to live and that is not only regarding the physical but every facet of life.  Life in the confidence that you belong to God and He has your life in His hands!  That will give you a renewed and new confidence and allow you to enjoy the Blessedness of the Abundant Life that Jesus came to bring!

May God be with you as you go through your day!