Guilt Born of Fear

Fear.  This is something we all know too well.  But I am not on the topic of fear for heights, or the dark, or even spiders or a small enclosed space today.  I am on the topic of fear of God.  Also, not the fear that we can also translate with being in awe, but rather fear, that is driven by our conscience. 

We all have a past.  Usually, it is not something we are proud of and would like to change it or redo it if we had a chance.  Maybe it is a very recent past.  Let’s bring it closer to home; how has your day been?  Have you miss stepped during this day?  Was there a moment in this day where you dishonoured God or did what you knew was not according to the will of God.  Have you sinned today?

Whatever the case may be, it is easy to start feeling guilty over something.  Now we know that God is almighty.  That God is all powerful.  That God is all knowing.  God is the creator of everything we see.  The only holy and truly righteous being we know.  God is the King over all.  Yet, thanks to Christ, we now have an audience with God.  This God.

It is normal to start feeling uncomfortable at this point.  How can we, as sinner and flawed people, be in the presence of this Almighty King?  We have sinned and fell short of our calling.  The problem is, this guilt separates us and holds us back from enjoying God’s presence.  We choose to not commune with our source of life because we feel guilty.  This guilt; is rooted in a fear of punishment. 

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^a free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^b God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^c And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. -Romans 8:1-4

We are assured that there is no more condemnation for us once we are in Christ Jesus.  Life through the Spirit is what makes this pardoning possible.

 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  -1 John 4:17-18

We have been given this love.  The love which hung on a cross for all of our sins and trespasses.  We can now take up this love and lay down the misguided fear of being punished.  We do not have to be feel guilty but can step boldly to the Throne of God and enjoy God’s presence.

It is up to you, to make this forgiving love your own and not to trip over your own conscience.