Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me…

                                                                                                                     Psalm 23:4a 

The first half of this wonderful Psalm reminds us that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we can stand in the following truths: 

God is our Guide and Protector…“The Lord is my Shepherd”

We are in need of nothing…“I shall not want”

We can enjoy safety and security in Christ…“He makes me lie down in green pastures”

We can refresh ourselves in His presence…“He leads me beside quiet waters”

We can enjoy restoration daily…“He restores my soul”

We can be confident in our spiritual standing…“He guides me in paths of righteousness”

Now David turns to the reality that all Christians should enjoy…living beyond fear. One of the most powerful verses involving the abolishment of fear in the life of a born again believer in Jesus is this:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

                                                                                                                     1 John 4:18 

I believe that this verse should accompany Christians in their daily lives as a reminder of the role that fear is not suppose to play in our lives. By memorizing and meditating on this wonderful truth, we can begin to realize, with David, the merits of living without fear.

First, when we realize the love of God and begin to experience the working of the Almighty in our lives, we understand that fear has no place in our existence. Does that mean that those who have “phobias” or deal with fear in their lives are placed in the category of second-class believers? Of course not! John is simply reminding us that, as Christians, we walk in the power and victory of the cross. It is perfectly natural for the flesh to rise up in certain circumstances, rendering us victims to the joy stealing effects of fear. But that’s where this passage comes into play. When we properly view God in the attribute of His perfect love, we begin to understand the purpose behind our existence, that of having a personal relationship with Him.

Secondly, the effect that the perfect love of God has on the human spirit is that of “casting out fear.” Many walk in spiritual uncertainty, a product of works-based religious philosophy, believing that they could slip away from the protective power of God. But John tells us that the perfect love of God “casts out fear.” In other words, there is only room for one of two things in the life of a believer: fear or faith. The two are completely incompatible. Every time that we allow fear to guide our thinking and our decision making, we are effectively yielding to that emotion. Faith in the goodness of God and His desire to bless is essential if we are to avoid the debilitating effects of fear. Walking in the faith that comes through believing in Jesus and His finished work on the cross could very well be the difference between spiritual victory or spiritual defeat.

Thirdly, we might be tempted to believe that the fear John is referring to is common, ordinary fear that we all face from time to time. But the passage does not allow for that interpretation. John specifically refers to this fear as involving punishment…Divine punishment. There is no (and never will be any) condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). That seems so simple yet the reality of our spiritual position in Jesus can so easily be forgotten and at times thrown out for the more fleshly appealing “works” philosophies. I believe that this comes largely from two things: thinking too highly of ourselves and too critically of others. A comparative lifestyle as a means of gaining some sense of spiritual security is one that is destined to fail. Only the power of the gospel, fully received in the life of an individual has the ability to render someone free from fear.

Lastly, John reminds us that the one who fears (Divine punishment) has not been perfected in love. As believers, we all live spiritual lives in fleshly bodies. This means that there will always be a tension between the spiritual man and the flesh (Romans 7:14-25). But although we will not experience complete perfection until we get to heaven, I still believe that we can experience powerful, abundant, and victorious lives as we serve Jesus on earth. Knowing that our right standing with God is based solely on the work of Christ on the cross is essential if we are going to move from those who live in fear, doubt, and uncertainty to a people who boldly, confidently, and unapologetically move out into the world to share the good news that is Jesus Christ!

David declares that even in the “valley of the shadow of death”, he would not fear any evil. What about us? Do we live in that same confidence? As believers in Christ, we should!