“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” – Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)
In these verses, Jesus addresses the very real fears that his disciples faced, encouraging them to have courage in the face of danger and even death.
Perspective Shift
Fear is a natural human response, but Jesus challenges us to shift our perspective.
Instead of fearing those who can only harm the body, we are called to fear God, who has authority over our eternal destiny.
Basis of True Courage
This may seem counterintuitive at first, but when we understand God’s character as a loving Father, this fear becomes the foundation for true courage.
We can face earthly threats with boldness, knowing that our lives are in the hands of a God who loves us deeply and desires our ultimate good.
Promise of Protection
Moreover, Jesus assures us that even in the face of physical harm or death, our lives are not ultimately at risk.
God’s protection extends beyond this life, and we can trust that He will keep us safe in His care, both now and for eternity.
As we confront the fears and challenges of this world, cling to the courage that comes from knowing and trusting in our Heavenly Father.
With His strength and protection, we can face even the most daunting circumstances with faith and boldness.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV)
Context
This verse comes from a book that is attributed to King Solomon, the wisest and richest man who ever lived. In this book, he shares his observations and reflections on life, as he searches for meaning and purpose in a world that seems full of vanity and futility.
He explores various aspects of human existence, such as work, pleasure, wisdom, wealth, justice, and death, and evaluates them from a human and a divine perspective.
In chapter 3, he talks about the seasons and cycles of life, and how there is a time for everything under the sun.
Message
What can we learn from this verse and its context? First, we can learn that God is the creator and sustainer of everything. He has made everything beautiful in its time, according to His design and plan.
He has given order and harmony to the universe, and He upholds it by His power and wisdom. He is the source and the goal of all things, and He works all things for His glory and our good.
Second, we can learn that God has given us a sense of eternity. He has also set eternity in the human heart, meaning that He has planted in us a longing and a desire for something more than this temporal and transient world.
He has made us for Himself, and He has given us a capacity and a curiosity to know Him and His ways. He has created us in His image, and He has endowed us with dignity and destiny.
Third, we can learn that God is beyond our comprehension. Yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end, meaning that we cannot fully grasp or understand the mystery and the majesty of God and His works.
He is infinite and eternal, and we are finite and temporal. He is sovereign and wise, and we are limited and foolish. He is holy and righteous, and we are sinful and flawed.
How can we apply this verse and its message to our lives? Here are some suggestions:
Worship God
Acknowledge that God is the creator and sustainer of everything, and that He deserves our praise and gratitude. Thank Him for His beauty and goodness, and for His grace and mercy.
Adore Him for His greatness and glory, and for His love and faithfulness. Surrender to Him as your Lord and Savior, and trust Him as your Father and Friend.
Seek God
Recognize that God has given you a sense of eternity, and that He is the only one who can satisfy your deepest needs and desires.
Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and to guide you in His truth and will. Study His Word, and listen to His voice. Pray to Him, and commune with Him. Serve Him, and follow Him.
Humble yourself before God
Realize that God is beyond your comprehension, and that you need His wisdom and grace. Do not lean on your own understanding, or rely on your own strength. Do not question or challenge God’s ways, or resent or rebel against God’s purposes.
Do not boast or brag about yourself, or judge or condemn others. Rather, submit to God’s authority, and depend on God’s power.
Seek God’s forgiveness, and extend God’s forgiveness. Learn from God’s correction, and grow in God’s likeness.
God has set eternity in the human heart, and He invites us to know Him and love Him. This is the message of Ecclesiastes 3:11, and this is the message of the gospel. Let us heed it and live by it.
