Satan sells you evil with the charm of a crooked used car salesman. You are all smiles until his deal leaves you broken-down and fearing for your safety. And like that salesman, he makes you believe that it’s the fault of everyone but himself.
Only the love of the Lord can put us in a place where we need not fear the consequences of our deals with the devil. The only way that you can possibly “fear no evil” is to know that you are no longer subject to its power to condemn you to hell.
This is the love of Jesus, who “by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Fear is a clear indicator of our proximity to God’s love. God, of course, doesn’t shift around like a shadow, but we do. But if we draw ever nearer to the source of perfect love, fear will be no more.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
The fearless heart is a love filled heart. It pities the malice of the sceptic and prays for the hurt of the cynic. If boldly faces the insults of the haters of the cross, and counts it a blessing to be able to be persecuted for Jesus’ sake.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
John Staiger