Q: "Mr Hugh, why am I scared of uncertainty?"
Reply: "Because you are acting like a human. Humans are scared of ncertainty.
Q:"Thanks."
A bit later:
Q: "Am I not human?"
R: I hope more than human. 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:37; 2 Peter 1:3 for starters. 2 Tim 1:8 for salad. Main course to follow."
My second reply regarding main course because I already have in mind to write this blog teaching. This is the main course, including starters and salad, for your edification. :-)
All scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted.
(Actually, I missed two. 2 Pe 1 should be verse 4 and 2 Tim 1 should be verse 7)
R: I hope more than human. 2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:37; 2 Peter 1:3 for starters. 2 Tim 1:8 for salad. Main course to follow."
My second reply regarding main course because I already have in mind to write this blog teaching. This is the main course, including starters and salad, for your edification. :-)
All scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted.
(Actually, I missed two. 2 Pe 1 should be verse 4 and 2 Tim 1 should be verse 7)
Humans are afraid of uncertainty, unknown. This fear is irrational, and most humans, like my early riser friend, have an inner sense that this is not how things should be, if they become aware of it. Many humans live uncertain lives, doing dangerous things in order to overcome what they know inside is not right.
In fact, since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, things are not as they should be. This awareness is written about in the Bible in Eccl 3:11. The first part of this verse is known by many, but most are unaware of contents or meaning of the second parts.
Eccl 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
He has set eternity in the hears of men (though they can’t fathom it all). What this means is there is a God-shaped hole in people that only God can fill. But this is topic for another teaching; I digress.
Here are the verses:
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
(Actually, I selected the wrong verse in my answer. The verse should be 2 Peter 1:4)
2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Here are the verses:
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
(Actually, I selected the wrong verse in my answer. The verse should be 2 Peter 1:4)
2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The point is that a Born Again Christian (John 3:5,6) is a new creation, no longer human, but now participates in the divine nature, has escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil (the effect of sin). (Somewhere in my blogs, before I created this blog specially for teaching, there is a teaching about Born Again).
We are more than human, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us enough to come down from heaven (see about JESUS THE WORD in this blog) and live as a human, with all human frailties, and die with all human pain (including rejection) on the cross. [I sense that the addition of including rejection is specially needed by someone suffering rejection right now. ]
1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
According to my Webster’s Distionary:
a[tone a[toned, a[ton4ing ME at-one, become reconciled < at one, in accord: see AT & ONE
Sin separates us from God, and allows corruption, or decay, instead of life, to become our nature. It is like dirt that disqualifies us from entering the purity of the throne room of God. We must have this dirt washed off before we can enter the throne room, that is to come into the presence of the Creator. Jesus’ death on the cross is the one thing that can atone for our sin, that is, bring us into life, into being ‘at one’ with God our Creator.
When we accept Christ, according to the Bible, we are no longer captives of the sin nature of human beings, but we share the divine nature of our Creator, and escape the corruption (or decay) caused by our separation from the source of Life, Jesus Christ.
The lie of the devil that keeps so many children of God powerless in this world is that we are only human. While it is true that the old human traits are not thrown off easily, it is also true that we are new creations, and that God has provided an escape from servitude to sin.
1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
It is true that all are attacked by the sin associated with human-ness (such as fear of uncertainty). But Christians have an escape. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to do two things. First, forgive us, and second, to purify us, or wash us clean. When we wash a garment, we can wear it again with confidence that the dirt has gone with the wash water. Sometimes we need a specially strong stain remover when we wash clothes. The blood of Jesus is the strongest, most effective stain remover available, can cleanse the worst stains imaginable, also those unimaginable!!
Fear is a sin, as is worry, since these reflect lack of faith that Jesus is in control and able and willing to make things turn out right. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
So rejoice! While our human nature wants to be afraid of uncertainty, God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear is a weapon of the enemy to keep us from the power, the love, and the sound mind (remember, fear of unknown is illogical). The blood of Jesus is able to lift us above the fear into those heavenly realms.
So, now you know why you experience fear of uncertainty. You conquer it by knowing who you are in Jesus, in knowing and trusting that he has a plan for your life, and he is able and faithful to bring that purpose to pass. Another teaching for another time.
GBU -HK-
