Good News!

In times of crisis and unrest, we come face-to-face with some very uncomfortable truths - we cannot assume that we will escape calamity, and there is very little that is really under our control! Many are fearful and the future seems very uncertain.

It is possible, however, to live without fearing the future, even in the midst of uncertainty. You see, there is Someone Who holds the future in His hands, and is delighted to deliver us from our fears - even the fear of death itself! 

He wants us to know this and He wrote us a long letter in which He says, 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened! For I am your God! I strengthen you - yes, I help you - yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” (Isaiah 41:10 NET)

God said those words to a man named Jacob. God longs for a relationship with each one of us just like He had with Jacob and, though He is perfectly holy and just and we, by contrast, are unholy and unjust, He has made a way to show mercy to us and rid us of the uncleanness and self-centeredness that separates each of us from Him.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the just penalty for all of our unrighteous decisions and actions, so that God could declare us righteous and establish that close relationship with us that He longs for so much. That penalty justly required death and so Jesus died in our place. All that He asks us to do is to acknowledge that we deserve judgment for our unrighteous actions, and agree with Him that only through what Jesus did can we justly be made righteous in God’s sight. We must believe that Jesus’ death was the only thing that could ever secure God’s forgiveness.

Once we do this, we enter into that special relationship with God. The death of Jesus Christ in our place secures everlasting life for us (see John 3:16,17) and then we can know, like Jacob, that,

“I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” (Isaiah 41:13 ESV)

God had that same relationship with another man named Joshua. Here is what He said to him:

“...Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

Imagine, if you can, what it would be like to know that the God of the universe will be with you wherever you go! This is the relationship God wants to have with you, and now you know what He has done to make that possible! 

The Apostle Paul knew what to do with our fears when we have a relationship with God. He wrote:

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition (asking) with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NET)

God longs for you to come to Him for forgiveness so that He can enter into a perfect relationship with you. He will take your fear away and give you His peace in its place.

If you have any questions or you would like to learn more about what God’s Word (the Bible) says about this or other topics, please call us.

Andrew (Drew) Tuecke 

(563) 580-0630 

dtuecke@gmail.com