"Be Strong, Fear Not: Behold, Your
God!"
Isaiah 35:4
This is God's command to all his
preachers: "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:
behold, your God!" Our commission is a most blessed one. We are sent to
preach the gospel of peace, to comfort God's people by encouraging their faith
in Christ (Isa. 40:1-2). God takes great care to supply his people with comfort
(Isa. 43:1-5); and it is the preacher's job to convey that comfort to them.
The word "fearful" in our text
means "hasty". Fearful men and women are always hasty. They jump to
conclusions based upon their present circumstances. Fear is never wise,
patient, or reasonable. The fearful heart says, with Jacob, "all these
things are against me!" Bro. Fearheart forgets the promises, the
providence and the power of God. Sis. Fearheart forgets the truth, wisdom and
faithfulness of God. Acting on impulse, they get into trouble. They judge the
Lord by feeble sense and fail to see his grace. They see the cloud of providence,
but not God's smiling face. Fear and unbelief their hearts flood, increasing
hour by hour. They taste the bitter, bitter bud, but not the sweetness of the
flower. To you, Bro. and Sis. Fearheart, God says, "Be strong, fear not:
Behold, your God!"
I do not mean to imply that fear and faith
cannot live together in the same heart. I know that they do (Ps. 56:3). But
fear is terribly inconsistent with faith and robs the believer of much comfort
and joy. This is the cure for every fear that may arise in the believer's
heart: "Behold, your God!" If you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, that
God who rules the universe in total sovereignty is your God! There is never any
cause for fear. Your salvation is finished!
Christ has redeemed you. He has both put away your sins forever and
given to you an everlasting righteousness with which God himself can find no
fault. Your Savior is in complete control of the universe! He who is too wise
to err, too good to do wrong and too strong to fail is your God; and he works all
things together for your good. The glory of God, that which you desire above
all else, is certain! Your God will, in, by and through all things, get glory
to himself. Your troubles will soon be over! Soon, you will be with Christ in
glory. So, "be strong, fear not: Behold, your God!"
Don Fortner