1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
Oftentimes we hear the old adage that love conquers hate, but here we find a biblical truth far more powerful. Perfect love casts out fear; and, if we fear we are not made perfect in love.
This verse may seem complex upon first reading, giving birth to questions rather than answers. However, this verse becomes crystal clear when thinking of parents and children. Which godly parent would not step into mortal danger for their child? In that situation, the parent does not fear death, for the perfect love for their child casts out such fear so that love can act. This is the story of every martyr of the faith, their love for God cast out the fear of a king, council, or lawmaker. But this verse does not only pertain to mortal fear, it applies to all types of fear.
If two children are waiting to go onstage at a talent show, and one has perfect love for the talent which they are prepared to exhibit while the other has little love for their talent, the child with perfect love will not hesitate to perform in front of strangers for they love what they are about to do. In contrast, the child with the imperfect love for their talent will give way to fear and resist the spotlight.
Christians are no different in relation to our love of God. A perfect love for God will make our Christian walk perfect before God. While Christians of the past had such love as to stand against such evil as the Spanish Inquisition and the monarchal reign of Bloody Mary, today Christian don’t have enough love for God to overcome the fear of handing out gospel tracts. The Bible is full of examples of perfect love casting out fear.
David’s mighty men did not fear the host of the Philistines between them and the well which David desired a drink from. They took no thought to the fear of battle or defeat because of their perfect love for the man of God, their king. Stephen had no fear of judgement or execution when he preached the gospel to those that would be his executioners. Paul had no fear of multiple imprisonments, stoning or beatings for the cause of Christ.
Our love for God should give us the faith to stand in the midst of any storm, face any enemy, or perform the simplest task. We love God because God first loved us. Knowing that the love of God is so far above our comprehension in its power and scope, we know that all that comes about in my life is ordained and sanctioned by God for His glory. If I love God perfectly, I have no fear of what those things may be. I see each and every thing in my life as a chance to prove my love, knowing that God is in control.
God can only use those whose love is strong enough to cast out their fear. The only reason someone’s flesh doesn’t give way to fear when doing something for God is the love that they have for God. Imperfect love will keep you in a comfort zone where you stop exercising faith and cling to the past blessings of God instead of continuing forward for God as a faithful servant.
Complacency is the love of what we currently have and the fear of new ventures causing us to losing them. Apathy is loving only those things most enjoyable to us fearing that in order to care about something new we will have to do something more than we are doing now. Greed is the love of seeing others with less and fearing someone else having more than we do. Everything action, or inaction, in life can be boiled down to love and fear.
So if we fear when in service to God, our love is not perfect. We perfect our love by reminding ourselves that when we were unworthy of love, grace and mercy God loved us by choice and gave all to pay for our sins. Our love for God wains and becomes imperfect when we forget that we are but dust that God gave life to. When we think that we are something on our own, we fear having to admit that we were lying to ourselves.
Your fellowservant in Christ,
Bro. Jordan Foster
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