Love overcomes fear (pre-election 2008)

It's fair to say that “the hopes and fears of all the years” rest on the outcome of next Tuesday's election.

• Some people are afraid of socialism.
  
• Some are afraid that our economy is headed south. (I'm there.)
  
• Some are afraid of another terrorist attack.
  
• Some are afraid that Obama will win.
• Some are afraid that McCain/Palin will win.
• We are all afraid of the unknown. It is the season of fear - “be afraid; be very afraid.”

We all have a shadow - that subconscious place where our fears reside. Politicians have known how to appeal to our shadows for years.

But what about the rest of that line - "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight?"

Exactly right. The author of 1 John says,

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 1 John 4:18

The early Christians had every reason to fear – and to hate – their enemies. Yet they took the way of the Cross as their way of life. They laid down their lives for their faith. Perhaps they were following John's radical understanding of the nature of God:

God is love.

The early Christians lived by the rule of love. They took Jesus' way of service and servanthood as their way of life. The “fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger,” etc.

I would encourage us all to expose our fearful side to the light of God's love. Remember who we are and whose we are. We can respond to God's world, not with our gut, but with our heart, and yes, even with our minds.

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD'S voice in everything you do, everywhere you go, he's the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message