Victory Over Fear (Part 7)

The Ultimate Victory

We come now to the final and greatest ‘fear not’ in the human story. Every fear we have discussed—fear of man, fear of the future, fear of lack—is ultimately a branch growing from a single, dark root: the fear of death. The Bible calls death ‘the last enemy that shall be destroyed’ (1 Corinthians 15:26). If we can find courage in the face of the death, then there is nothing left in this world that can truly terrify us.

When the women arrived at the tomb of Jesus and found the stone rolled away, they were ‘affrighted’. But the angel answered:

‘Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.’ Matthew 28:5-6.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we no longer have to fear the unknown or the end of our lives because Jesus has gone into the heart of death and come out the other side with ‘the keys of hell and of death’ (Revelation 1:18).

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus gave his disciples a promise. He was honest about the reality of life in a fallen world, but he pointed to a victory that was already settled:

‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33.

To ‘be of good cheer’ is to take courage. The reason for our cheer isn’t that the tribulation has vanished, but that Jesus has overcome all. The Greek sense of ‘overcome’ implies a permanent victory. He has defeated the world’s power to destroy us. Because he lives, we shall live also.

Because of his resurrection, we can look at the most frightening aspects of life with a new kind of holy defiance. As Paul asks: ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55).

When we know that our ‘expected end’ is eternal life in a new heaven and a new earth with a redeemed body and a saved soul, we realise that the troubles of today are temporary, ‘light afflictions’ compared to the ‘eternal weight of glory’ that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17).

The purpose of this series has been to move us from a spirit of fear to a spirit of power. That power is ultimately resurrection power. It is the life of Jesus dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to stand when others fall and to hope when others despair.

As we finish this series and look at state of the world, we must remember:

• God has commanded us to fear not because he is with us.
• He has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
• He is Emmanuel, walking with us through every valley.
• He is the Overcomer, who has already secured our final victory.

We do not need to be afraid of the past, present, or future. The King is on his throne, his Spirit is in your heart, and your future is hidden with Christ in god.

As Paul wrote, ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31).