Nothing is Unknown to the Father

What are you afraid of? Spiders? Heights? Death?

All of us are afraid of something. Sometimes those fears can be rational, but many times those fears are brought upon by an experience. You were bitten by a spider. You fell out of a tree as a small child. Maybe you've tasted death for yourself, or have had someone close to you pass away. All of the things that we fear seem like tangible reasons to do so, but God has a different thought.

Here is the story of Jesus walking on water: Matthew 14:22-31

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

So many times in our lives, we doubt. We fear. But Jesus is always there to comfort us in those times. Jesus told His disciples to trust Him, and many times they did, but in situations like this, they proved to be human. Just like we are. We are consumed with trying to be tough on the outside, but when it comes to our fears, we shy away. All the while, Jesus is standing there with an outstretched hand saying, "Why do you doubt me?"

Switching gears a little bit, I wanted to talk about the concept of death. I think that is the number one fear in America, more likely than not, the world over as well. No one wants to die. People don't know what is going to happen to them. That thought can consume you, but God doesn't want us to fear what we think is the unknown, for it is known to God. He knows what this life holds for us, and He wants us to cling to Him in our times of fear. When we don't run to Him, it's as if we are telling God that our fears are bigger than He is. God created the universe. It is a wide, expansive thing to think about, but He also created the smaller things too. Feelings, thoughts, ideas, etc. We have the free will to think and feel as we please, but when we cast our cares upon the Lord, in the Bible it says that He cares for us.

Death may not be the ideal thing to talk about, but it is a reality for every man and woman, every human.

Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are meant to die.  

Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned."

Death is the punishment for sin. Adam sinned, and death was the consequence. And while that can seem scary at times, I find my peace in the Word of God. Jesus Christ came to this earth to be a Savior. And He did save us. From eternal death. Our human bodies have to suffer death, but in choosing Him as our Savior, we never have to worry about the future of our souls.

Psalm 56:4 -- In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

There is nothing that man can do to your soul. It's safe. Protected. Protected by the keeper of souls.
I take heart in that. Just the thought that someday, I will be standing face to face with the one who took the nails for me, makes it all worthwhile. My body on earth is merely a tool for the Lord to use. And I think that is the way we should see it. God put us on the earth for a reason -- to share the Good News and spread the name of Christ. We have to use our mortal bodies for that. Yes, they can be hurt, bruised and broken, but none of that compares to the reward that we will receive in Heaven for our sufferings.

The next time that death becomes your fear, look up to the Heavens. The Lord won't let you go through anything on earth that you cannot handle. It's like the quote says, "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it."

And for those of you who still fear the unknown, remember this:

Nothing is unknown to God. Our days on earth are numbered, but if we choose to follow the cross and live according to His will, then our days in God's kingdom shall have no end.

Blessings,


A.