Understanding The Greater Threat
Luke 12:4-7
"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those
who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show
you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast
into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two
copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of
your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than
many sparrows." (Luke 12:4-7)
One of the most powerful motives in human behavior is the fear of the impending
loss of your life. The fear of death will cause us to visit an emergency room
with great haste, call the police, fire a weapon, hide or flee to a safe place.
This will to live and defeat death causes people everyday to cancel air flights,
take a cumbersome detour or seek professional protection. Police officers wear
bullet-proof vests, men who work at risky heights use safety equipment and
drivers enroll in defensive driving. We do not want to be killed. There is a
natural human impulse to stay alive.
Jesus said, "do not be afraid of those who kill the body." Is Jesus telling us
that the above typical cautions are unwise and faithless? Do His words recommend
that we have no concern, no fear, no bother over the threat of death? No. First,
we must study His words in the context of all He is saying on this occasion, in
this text. Second, we must consider this truth in the light of other biblical
truth (Paul said to a man attempting suicide, "do yourself no harm," Acts
16:28).
The point Jesus makes has to do with what is worse. There is something worse
than physical death. Being cast into hell! There should be in us - not just the
fear of physical death, but the greater fear of spiritual death. If we take
lightly the approach of the devil, and we do not take God seriously - we haven't
learned what Jesus teaches.
Isn't it revealing how strong and quick our impulses are when we think physical
death is near. Yet when faced with something that could cast us into hell, we
may show no evidence of any alarm! If we believe a vicious stalker is near, we
act with caution. A gunman in the neighborhood will prompt our keen defenses.
The devil is a murderer, a stalker and vicious enemy - but there is often no
sense of alarm, no fear or concern (see Jno. 8:44; 1 Pet. 5:8). Jesus wants us
to understand the greater threat! This is about taking God seriously (reverence
and fear toward Him), and along with this - a sober, watchful defensive position
toward the devil.
Who really cares about you? Not the devil. His interest in you is strictly
carnal; you are meat to him (see 1 Pet. 5:8)!
God cares about you in the deepest, purest way. Sparrows have enjoyed their
existence since their creation, under the protection of God's providence. but we
"are of more value than many sparrows."
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 8.5; May 2001
