How well do we truly trust in God? Do we trust him enough that we could go anywhere and do anything without fear? Could you walk on the edge of a tall building a not fear falling? Could you walk through a battlefield and not fear getting hit by a stray bullet? Could you live during a famine and not fear starving?
One fiction character with the greatest faith I have seen does not inhabit a 'christian' novel. He is Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis in Megan Whalen Turner's popular series. Eugenides, Gen for short, has no fear. He can do handstands on the edge of the roof, and walk straight into the enemy stronghold and know that whatever happens is the will of his god (the god of thieves, also called Eugenides). His philosophy is this: He knows that one day he will fall, and die. But whether he lives and whether he dies in entirely the gods' decision. So he is not afraid to take risks, not afraid to do whatever is necessary, because ultimately, how things turn out is not up to him. His god will protect him, or he will not, and the choice is his.
We will all meet the afterlife one day. To spend our lives being worried about being safe is to perpetually avoid the inevitable.
How great our faith would be to rely fully on God's will. Not to worry whether we live or die, because the decision is God's alone. This is the faith God wants us to cultivate, the freedom that he wants to us have.
Paul said it in one of his letters. Dying is gain, because then he would be with God, but in living he can further God's work, so that is good as well. Whatever we do, live in the hand of your god. So said Eugenides. Live or die, we are in God's hand, and nothing can change that.
So where is fear?
In a heart of little faith. Perfect love casts out fear.
Take the Thief's dare.
Know that you belong with God, and you will experience true freedom.
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