It seems as though the world is talking about the Ebola virus right now. Many are in a panic. Many are terrified.
Proper fear can be a good thing. Recognizing something to be a threat is good. Formulating a plan to stay safe is good. Putting the safety plan into action is good.
However, we tend to focus on the latest thing (Acts 17:21) to the detriment of other things that are worthy of our “fear.” For example, while it is true that more than 4,000 people have died since the Ebola outbreak, there are other things to fear.
Obesity is connected to more than 300,000 deaths per year.
Tobacco is connected to more than 450,000 deaths per year.
Alcohol is connected to more than 88,000 deaths per year.
Additionally, due to any and every cause, more than 150,000 die every single day.
Are these not numbers to fear?
What is more, of these 150,000 daily deaths, how many of them were washed by the saving blood of Jesus Christ our Lord?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge . . .” (Pro 1:7).
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries…for we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:26-27, 30-31).
“For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience” (2 Cor 5:10-11).
