The Bible speaks of many sins, but suprisingly, the one that
heads the list in Revelation 21:8 is fearfulness.
“The fearful, and unbelieving, and
the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters,
and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.“
Why is fearfulness considered a sin?
1.
Fear shows a lack of faith – “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso
putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Prov 29:25 “[Jesus]
saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and
rebuked the winds and the sea.” Mat. 8:26
2.
Fear forgets
God’s promises –“ I, even I, am he
that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that
shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest
the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid
the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of
the fury of the oppressor…” Isa. 51:12-13
3.
Fear is devilish and fleshly – “God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Tim. 1:7
4.
Fear is
contagious and brings others into a weak state–The armies of Israel were
instructed by their officers this way, -“What
man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return
unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.”
Deut. 20:8
5.
Fear confounds good judgment – “The spies brought up an evil report of the
land which they had searched unto the children of Israel…And all the children
of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron Num… But all the
congregation bade stone them with stones.” Numbers 13:30, 14:2,10
There is one
kind of fear that we should have, however - a godly fear – “The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Prov 9:10 “
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him .Psalm 85:9 -adapted from biblebelievers.com
