Wow...EVERYTHING that does not come from faith is sin...EVERYTHING. Now that's pretty clear! As I continued to think about that verse, I realized something I'd never realized before...FEAR is sin. Oh, but wait a minute...you say! Fear is an emotion. Well, yes, it is an emotion but fear is so much more than that. Fear is a lack of faith!
Have you ever thought about fear being a selfish act? It is! When we fear, we are choosing to believe what WE want to believe about something instead of trusting in what God says about it. We are choosing to put the fear above God! And anything put above God is considered an idol. Was I idolizing fear??? I certainly didn't think so but...
I have been very fearful lately. As you might imagine, Cancer can do that to you. Even after surgery and knowing the doctor said she thinks she got it all, I've been fearful there might be some Cancer cells lurking around in my body somewhere. In fact, radiation therapy just confirms that fear...why would they feel it necessary to irradiate my body if they weren't thinking that some rogue Cancer cells might just be swimming up my blood stream or sliding through my lymph system? Fear had attached itself to me during that first phone call telling me the mass was malignant. And that fear had been gleefully taking piggyback rides on my back ever since. That is, until I decided to shake it off today after reading this verse.
God gave me a clarity that I'd never experienced before. In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, "without faith it is impossible to please God." Now if fear is a lack of faith, then how did I expect to be able to please God if I was afraid??? Fear certainly doesn't come from faith so I realized that it indeed was a sin.
When you're struggling with a serious illness, it's easy to fall into the trap of only hearing and believing what the test reports show or what the doctors tell you. It's easier to believe the black and white than to have faith in what you can't see or understand. But, as a Christian, I know God expects me to walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "for we walk by faith not by sight." So in order for me to walk by faith, I have to choose not to fear!
The more and more I studied this morning, God revealed to me that part of the reason I haven't been sleeping is due to fear. Of course, I have physical pain too, but if I can release the fear completely, God will supply His peace to fill the void the fear was occupying in my mind. In 1 John 4:18, the Bible says, "There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings
with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not
reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete
perfection]." God's perfect love contains no fear! And I know as His child, He lives inside of me so, His love is inside of me too and therefore, fear can't possibly reside in me!!!
Why had I not realized beforehand that fear is a sin? I knew unbelief was sin but I never connected that fear is too. After understanding this concept, I had no choice but to let it go. I had to pry those greedy little fingers of fear off my back and cast it away. I feel so much lighter now...
I've been set free from the deceitful grip that fear had on my life. Now it has no power over me because I'm choosing to walk in truth instead of believing a lie straight from the pit of hell.
Fear, worry, doubt...all lies! If you're struggling with those sins today, release them! Replace those lies with truth from God's Word. Walk in faith, even though you can't see a thing...just know that He's got you in His hand and He's never going to let you go! Remember that EVERYTHING that does not come from faith is sin....EVERYTHING.
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