Fear

Frightened about the “end-times”? Clansi looks at some stress-free Bible verses.

Like most children, I used to be scared of the dark. I’d flick off my bedroom light and in the same movement leap from the door to the bed, afraid to even touch the ground. Huddling under the blankets I’d take careful inventory, convinced that an exposed arm or a leg would be certain death!

Fear is a funny thing, often motivating us to do silly things, to imagine scary scenarios and to be distrustful of the most innocent things. It can paralyse us, or spur us into action.

As Christians we’re supposed to be excited about the Second Coming. Some of the last words of the Bible, in Revelation 22:17, 20, 21, express this excitement and literally cry out for Jesus to return. With all the things that go wrong in the world we probably should be excited about His return, because He has promised to make all things new! Many people point to the things shown nightly on the news as proof that He is returning soon.
However, often we find ourselves more scared than excited. Christians have a habit of focusing not on the return of Jesus, but rather on: “The End of the World!” There have been many sermons preached, books written, and movies made about the events surrounding the return of Jesus. Some scenarios seem truly terrifying, and a lot of people simply stop reading the parts of the Bible that talk about tests and famines, wars and pestilence.

The Bible has a lot to say about the return of Jesus. There are passages all through the New Testament that talk about it, and the entire book of Revelation deals with Jesus and His soon coming. There are plenty of people who have time lines all worked out, with each plague, trial and event meticulously placed according to where and how it should happen. Personally, I doubt that this is the most important thing.

Some of the most important verses about Christ’s return are found either in Revelation or even in Jesus’ discussion with His disciples about end-time events (found in Matthew 24 and 25). At first glance these important verses don’t even seem to be talking about Jesus’ return, and in a lot of ways they aren’t. But whenever we get scared about things that are happening in the world or the events the Bible says are yet to come, it helps to remember these words.

“I’ll be with you as you do this [living the Christian life, telling others about Jesus], day after day after day, right up to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20, The Message). Whatever happens, whatever events take place, Jesus promises that He will always be there with us. As Christians this helps us to live in hope rather than fear.