Be Not Afraid of Their Terror

(1 Pet 3:8-17 NIV) Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

{9} Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

{10} For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

{11} He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

{12} For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

{13} Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

{14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." (1 Pet 3:14 KJV) But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

{15} But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

{16} keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

{17} It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

I know where I am going because I know the Lord and follow Him. I know that in Christ the victory is mine even if some battles are lost. I know that those that attack me because of my faith or because of any evil intent are in serious trouble because He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. I know where they are going and it is not a pleasant place.

We have no guarantee of a soft comfortable life in this world but we have an unbreakable promise of a wonderful eternal life in the world we will inherit if we are in Christ and He is in us and we are all one with the Father.

(John 17:13-26 NIV) "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. {14} I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. {15} My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. {16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. {17} Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. {18} As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. {19} For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. {20} "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, {21} that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. {22} I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: {23} I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. {24} "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. {25} "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. {26} I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

It is not uncommon for people to choose to accept pain and suffering for a greater good. Women accept childbirth, men accept fighting a war, and we all accept something unpleasant or painful at sometime in life because we count the reward as worth the price. Often we actually welcome the difficulties we face in anticipation of the outcome we expect will be to our liking. That’s not to say we like the adversity but we do want to get on with it so the prize will be ours.

(Rom 5:1-9 NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. {3} Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; {4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. {5} And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. {6} You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. {7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. {8} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

(Luke 21:36 RSV) But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."

(1 Cor 10:13 RSV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Here is a final thought from President Abraham Lincoln. “ The probability that we might fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.” We shall overcome, we will not be moved, and the battle belongs to the Lord. We have victory in Jesus! The world is against us but God is for us. Be not afraid of their terror.