If someone doesn’t know how to swim very well, what is one thing that they should absolutely wear if they go onto a small boat? They should wear a life jacket. A life jacket is a safety device that when worn properly will enable a person to float on the surface of the water without sinking, and it is this feature that can give an inexperienced swimmer confidence that they will not drown if they fall into a lake.
It’s so nice to have something that gives you complete confidence, isn’t it? Just to know that you will be absolutely fine at all times can give someone great peace of mind. Another example that comes to mind is something as simple as having an extra set of keys for your car. Suppose that you went on a hike in the woods one day, but somewhere along your walk you accidently lost your keys. This could certainly be quite a stressful situation for some people if that was the only key that they had for their car, but if they had a spare key hidden somewhere in the vehicle then all of that stress can be taken away. While it certainly isn’t the most ideal circumstance, the worry over that lost key can be wiped away.
Psalms 23:1-6 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Over our lifetime as a Christian, we will encounter times of peace, as well as harder times of trials and persecution, but our faith and trust in our Lord should keep us filled with the peace of the Holy Spirit.
We do not need to be afraid, because God is with us. We do not need to be filled with worry and fear, because He is our Shepherd. He is our Deliverer and Protector.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
When we put our complete faith and trust in Christ, we have nothing to fear. There is no one who can separate us from His love. It has been written in the Bible that those who will live Godly will suffer persecution, but that is ok! They persecuted Christ Himself, and they will persecute His followers as well. So don’t be afraid, or dismayed if and when this happens to you. Be filled with peace in your heart.
John 16:33 “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.”
The Lord is our Champion who fights on our side. He has already defeated death, something that no one else has ever done. So when Jesus taught in Luke 21:16 that “some of you shall they cause to be put to death,” we do not need to be afraid. We will all die eventually, as our earthly bodies cannot live forever, so those who die for their faith in Jesus can be at peace, knowing that a life of eternity will await them soon afterwards.
Luke 12:4 “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.”
Whatever trials that we go through we will always have God on our side. Place your confidence in Him!
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 