The cowardly? Isn’t that a little harsh? Isn’t fear a normal reaction, and even healthy sometimes? What if I cannot help but be fearful – especially if the things that I fear are not just my imagination? Can’t God just give me a medical exemption out of compassion for those diagnosed with weak hearts? These are valid questions, and we will come back to them at the end. Just to be clear, the subject here is not natural human caution in the face of real danger, nor a reverential awe towards God. Instead, we are talking about a way of life characterized by paralyzing and panic-inducing fear.
The Coronavirus, the response to it and the repercussions from it have instilled a deep fear in humanity. Many are fearful of the intentions of other humans, based on the track record of human history and the actions of leaders prophesied in the Bible. Others find the very nature of God to be frightening, either because he allows such evil individuals to be victorious (if only for a time), or because of the judgements that he himself pours out (especially at the end of time). It is no wonder that many people can identify with the wicked servant who received the single talent: “For I feared you, because you are an austere man” (Luke 19:21).
In this spiritual war, fear keeps us as soldiers from being effective in battle. For this reason, Moses gave command to discharge all of the fearful and fainthearted (Deut. 20:8), and Gideon sent all but three hundred of his men home (Judg. 7:3). We could be tempted to think that God is merely interested in maintaining an army of warriors when he commands us not to fear. Battle-readiness is indeed a major goal, but God has a motive that reveals his long-term and personal care for each of his warriors.
We find the key in the following passage: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:18-19). As God prepares our hearts to spend eternity with him, removing fear is on the top of his list. The Bible is full of commands not to fear, but rather to trust.
This work of fear removal is for our own good, because we never will feel at home with him if it is not replaced by his love – which is, interestingly, the opposite of fear. Indeed, fear is like a foretaste of the torment and punishment of hell. If we doubt the goodness of his motives or fear what he allows in our lives, arriving in heaven would not solve that very basic breakdown of our relationship with him.
So, are we punished for being fearful? Is there no compassion and understanding? I would suggest that these are the wrong questions. Undoubtedly, cowardly fear is one of the traits of the unbeliever when he stands before God, but the believer is in a lifelong process of preparation for heaven – which includes the uprooting of ungodly fear. The Lord would actually be unloving to allow us to continue suffering in the torment of fear – whether in this life or the next. God works in our hearts to remove the punishment of being fearful with the goal of ultimately rescuing us from the punishment for being fearful. These days are an unparalleled opportunity to allow that work of mercy continue – whatever lies ahead.
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