“But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” Matthew 14:26-32 ESV
There comes a time when we either allow faith or fear to take hold of the heart.
Deep down, we all long to know Who the True Living God is. We want a touch from Heaven and a validation that Jesus Christ is in fact Lord and Savior. Though there be much evidence for this within our day and age; this is not the emphasis of this blogs writing. The emphasis is that fear will keep you stagnant and will eventually sink you. The trials and tribulations of our day will grind us into the ground. There comes a time when we either allow faith or fear to take hold of the heart. It is in the midst of this troublesome dilemma that we either hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ, or we allow unbelief and fear to squander us.
When Jesus told Peter to come to Him, Peter immediately went. Peter was not focused on that which was around him; all he could see was Jesus. Many people who begin their spiritual journey with the Lord Jesus Christ take part in this exact same walk. They enter in only seeing Christ. They want to share their experiences with everyone they know. They are operating on a spiritual high. Those, however, who are not new to the faith, understand that it is a long road to follow Christ. Family and friends will not understand you at times. People in the workplace will mock and ostracize you. Words of hate, slander and misunderstanding are bound to happen when you are found in the body of Christ.
Our labor is not in vain, when it is done for the Lord.
The true born-again believer who has walked for some time with the Lord, understands that the Christian road is one that calls for us to endure and remain steadfast. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, un-moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV). Our labor is not in vain, when it is done for the Lord. We need not allow that which is around us to distract us from doing the Lord’s work.
The reason many of us fall into fear is because we lose sight of our faith.
When Peter saw the wind, he became afraid. The reason many of us fall into fear is because we lose sight of our faith. We set what we once knew to the side, and we focus our entire activity of the brain and its perception to that which is producing a conflict. We see our financial trouble and we panic. We see friends die and we wonder if we will be next. We become afraid of being asked about our faith, so we never share it. We see someone growing in their faith, and we allow the fear of them knowing more than us to slip us into depression. There are many ways in which life’s circumstances pelt us with fear.
We all know the familiar verse of what it is that casts out fear; and that can be found in 1 John 4:18 (KJV): “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” This love is focused on the person of Jesus Christ and obeying Him. For those who may argue that obedience is not a form of love; they need to go no further than the book of 1 John to get an overview of what love truly is.
When we look at our entire being altogether, we are very finite.
When we choose to get our eyes off of that which is around us, and we begin to look to the Heavens; it is there where we will find the supernatural peace of Jesus Christ. It is a funny thing to look back at previous trials and tribulations and say, “that was nothing. The Lord got me through that.” When “we” conquer our circumstances, it is the world today that will congratulate us and say, “You are strong. You are courageous. You can do anything.” The message is all about “you”; but O how diluted this thinking is. Look at our limitlessness? Compared to other humans, we may excel better in other areas; but when we look at our entire being altogether, we are very finite.
Sickness makes us weak and frail. We become offended at the smallest ridicules from another. We are depressed when we don’t get our way. We are so limited, that those who are deceived into the mindset that they are the ones who can do everything on their own, are those who are most prideful. They lack the humility to understand the reality of God and that without His very Being, they would not have life. It is only God Himself that allows us to live; without Him, we would be nothing.
When we realize our frailty, we cling to Christ.
When we realize our frailty, we cling to Christ. We no longer see ourselves and say, “How am I going to get out of this?” The answer, dear friend, is you will not. It is only through trusting, believing, praying and fasting to the Lord that miracles will happen. Faith in God is the ultimate of these; for without it, God will not answer. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
We must become blind to that which is around us, and see Christ in full sight.
We must be willing to set ourselves aside, and trust in the Lord. We must become blind to that which is around us, and see Christ in full sight. We must not allow the temporal problems of our day to overwhelm us, but we must live in the knowledge of Him Who does not change.
Let us then press on with genuine love and sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. If we do not, we risk a season of life in stagnation. We will forever shrivel, complain, worry, stress and be depressed if we are always focusing all of our energy, thoughts and contemplations on exterior problems. There is something supernatural, however, about focusing on the Omnipotent God. It is He Who can “do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 ESV).
See not the world, but seek the Kingdom.
Set your heart, dear friends, on the One Who cannot fail. See not the world, but seek the Kingdom. Do not allow Satan to deplete your strength and testimony with fear; but by the power of the Holy Spirit, rise up and set a blazing fire deep within your soul. Allow God to kindle the fire of your inner being to forever love and have faith in Him. Don’t go back in the boat, but walk on the water with the Lord. He will lead us to doing that which is impossible in our own strength. He will do miracles beyond comprehension; but we must simply ask: Do I have the faith to get out of my boat?
Lance VanTine