The Bungee Cord. 2-19-24

Hello,

Are you scared?

After all, violence is unravelling all over the world. A war in Ukraine where cities are disappearing into piles of dust. A battle in Gaza, sparked by unthinkable deeds, leaving millions of people homeless and lining up for morsels of food, and going home empty. A shooting at a Superbowl celebration wounding children who were there to have the chance to see their heroes and remember it for the rest of their lives. Are you scared?

After all, the atmospheric temperature is rising year after year. Record breaking temperatures rolling across the country. Hurricanes and tornados with power and destruction that have never been seen before. Sea levels rising. Artic ice melting. Are you scared?

After all, the world-wide economy is fragile and threatened by the actions of leaders far from our home. Crowds of people at our southern border seeking their way into the United States. Warnings of inflation and recession. Election campaigns foretelling of the demise of our country. Are you scared?

After all, viruses and disease that had previously been unheard of are suddenly prowling all around us. Cancers caused by environmental concerns. Covid mutating as fast as we can develop vaccines. Veins getting clogged by what we eat and drink. Disinfectives filling store shelves and shopping carts. Are you scared?

Day after day, hour after hour, minute after minute there are voices reverberating all around us telling us that there is much to fear. And I believe that they are telling us the truth. To look around and ignore the reality of the perils of the world in which we live is to live in a make-believe world. Human beings are mere ants in the battle against evil. We are no more than sub-microscopic specks of dust in the universe. Only a fool would tell you as a lion is charging at you with hunger in its eyes, “Don’t be scared.” So, I am not telling that you need not be scared.

But in the cacophony of fear speakers, there is one who is telling you that you need not be scared. “Fear not.” There is one whose might, and power spans and contains the universes. There is one whose care for every bit of his handiwork might be classified as OCD. There is one for whom the gates of hell are mere toothpicks, and the chains of death are soggy noodles. There is one for whom the pits of despair are nothing but golf-divots. And this one is not hiding in the bushes of the universe but has stepped right out into the open – right out onto the top of a hill, spotlighted on a cross and says to anything and everything that might crush you or steal you away from him, “You are not getting this one!”

It is not me who is telling you not to be scared. It is the one who died on the cross and rose from the dead, and has staked his claim on you that says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.* The Father and I are one.’ (john 10)

In other words, “Fear not!”

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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