Is being fearful a sin against God
We are living in a very dangerous and changing world. A world where fear is ever-increasing as we go through this pandemic with the COVID-19 virus. It is causing a great deal of division in all countries as the vaccinated oppose the unvaccinated.
Governments are imposing restrictions on everyone and causing more concern as they attempt to control the populations. Everyone fells fear for their futures and their families’ futures.
This is understandable, but for our faith in God. We must show no fear of what other people or governments can do to us.
We know and understand that the crimes of murder, sexual crimes and stealing are all sins against God. But it is interesting to note that in Rev 21:8 the first sin mentioned is cowardice. Listed before any other type of sin.
Why is this?
The first thing we must endeavour to do is to see why fear and a lack of faith are such great sins against God. Let us read Neh 6:10 to see one answer.
Neh 6:10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”
(11) But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”
(12) I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
(13) He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
(14) Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.
Verse 13 is the vital part to understand. They hired Shemaiah to intimidate Nehemiah, make him doubt God and, therefore, to sin.
Cowards mentioned first
In the Rev 21:8, the cowardly are first on the list of sinners.
Rev 21:8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
These cowardly do not show loyalty to their sovereign God. They will put their own desires before the will of God. They violate the very first of the commandments by not putting God first. It is not surprising the first sin listed here violates the first and greatest commandment. It is important we remember that God never changes; He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
First and greatest commandment
Mat 22:36 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
In his commentary on this verse, James Burton Coffman states, “But it is not of natural fear and timidity that John speaks; it is that cowardice which in the last resort chooses self and safety before Christ.”
We see here that fear will cause us to reject God in favour of caring for ourselves. If we are to love God with our whole heart, soul and mind, we will fear no-one, or anything that may cause us to doubt the goodness of God. This cowardice comes about from a lack of faith and, as we see in Rom 14:23, this is also a sin.
Rom 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.
Therefore, do not be a coward for matters of your faith. And do not shrink away from God. We must trust our Almighty Creator and reject any thoughts of fear for being intimidated or bullied because we put Him first in our lives. Having faith in God is vital if you wish to please Him.
Trust our Almighty Creator
Heb_10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
We are not of those who shrink back, those who are fearful, or those who are cowards for the word of God. During the tough days that are ahead of us. We must learn to rely on God for everything, as we see in Pro 3:5-6.
Pro 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
(4) Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
(5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
(6) in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
This is the best advice I can give to anyone who is seeking God. Seek Him with your whole heart and do not be fearful about what any man can do to you.
TRUST GOD
Return to Messages From The Word Of God