Lately, I am realizing more and more that because the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, he has chosen to use fear as one of his major weapons to accomplish his destructive plan. And he does not play fair when he uses fear. He knows what will trigger trepidation and terror in our lives and sometimes he establishes unhealthy fears in our minds and uses them against us. I remember once I saw a big lizard in the kitchen. It was huge. It looked like an iguana on the wall. Well, my mind may have made it that large. Nevertheless, I was terrified. I would not go into the kitchen the whole day. My mother called me, and she told me I had to eat as it was late in the afternoon. I saw that the lizard looked like it may be heading towards the window, so I worked up enough courage to go outside and push open the top windows in the kitchen. Later, I tiptoed to the kitchen door and quickly looked around not wanting to see this gigantic reptile staring at me. I ran to the closest cupboard and hurriedly grabbed crackers to deal with my hunger. The lizard seemed to have left, but a couple days later I was still walking around the house with a broom in my hand to defend myself against a lizard attack. Not long after that, I was waiting for a drive to go home at the supermarket, and there was a nurse there testing blood pressure. I decided since I was going to be there for a little while, I should get tested. The nurse was shocked when she saw the reading of 144 over 124. She asked me why my blood pressure was that high and I said one word, “Lizard!” A lot of us are sick because we live in fear, many of which are unfounded.
My unhealthy fear of lizards caused me to have wild imaginations which affected my behavior, mental health and physical health. Now, I know that I am not the only one who fears lizards. I have heard of many Jamaicans with lizard drama stories. Once, I was told of a farmer who chopped his leg with a machete trying to stop a lizard from going up his leg. And there are so many more, so let’s confess our sin if we live in fear of lizards or of anything else for that matter because fear is sin. You don’t have to believe me, just look at the Bible.
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Notice the list starts with the cowardly and where they are going. The Bible repeats “do not fear” several times from Genesis to Revelation. It is not a suggestion, but a command. When we live in fear and it is not the fear of the Lord, then we are living in sin.
So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. Genesis 46:3
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
God will send us into the unknown and tell us not to fear. He does not even want us to fear death as many of us Christians will suffer and die because of our faith. We have to know who we are in Christ, recognizing that in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. And this perfect love casts out all fear because there is no fear in love. I heard someone say that fear is a “spiritual cancer that eats away your life.” And that’s exactly what the devil wants.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
When the devil uses fear it is never fair. He uses it to suck the power out of us and let us think of only protecting ourselves even at the expense of others because of our wrong thinking caused by fear. But this is not of God. He tells us to be strong and courageous.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
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