ORIGIN OF FEAR AND ITS CURE

BY ELDER TAN KEH WHOO

It has been a year and a half and there seems to be no end to the bad news we are getting about Covid-19. This sudden surge in cases the past week and the emergence of the highly infectious Delta-variant are fresh reminders that human effort and ingenuity can only do so much to control its spread.  I confess that I never thought I would become a ‘casualty’ in the wake of this on-going pandemic.  From fearing for the survival of my law practice, to anxiety over strained relationships, to concern over the ‘exposure notification’ received in the Trace Together App.  I’ve come to realize that despite being a Christian for 3 decades, I actually live my life in varying degrees of anxiety and fear.

When I googled the web for information on fear, www.webmd.com is of the view that fear can be categorized into 2 types – innate fear (fears that we are born with) and learned fear (fear that we learn or pick up from life experiences).  Scientists even say it may be due to the strathmin gene as mice without this gene behave differently when subject to situations that scare normal mice.  Many theories – none really helpful.

What does the Bible say?

The very first account of humans displaying fear is found in Genesis chapter 3 when, after disobeying God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve hid from God. When questioned by God why they were hiding, Adam answered:- “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid….”.

So, there you have it: the origin of fear is sin.  Since the fall, sinful men have been running away from God, avoiding God, even denying the very existence of God – as if denial will make God disappear and cease to exist.  And as sin spread in the world, the things that cause us to fear has also increased.  From fear of losing out or missing out, to fear of losing our livelihood, and since this week – fearful whether our kids are safe from harm in school. There are just countless things that we can be fearful about, due to both sin in ourselves and living in a sinful fallen world.

Thank God that He Himself has provided the solution for us.  1 John 4:18 says that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear”.  If we are believers and followers of Jesus, we know for sure that Jesus loves us perfectly and immeasurably! All our sins are forgiven and God’s wrath is no longer on us; we need not run from God any more.  And because we are children of God, our value and identity come from being in Christ – all the riches of His glory now belong to us; we need not worry about what people or the world thinks about us any more! 

Our God understands us and that is why in the Bible, “fear not”, “do not fear” and “do not be anxious” are mentioned more 80 times in the ESV bible.  So the next time you feel you are about to be overtaken by worry, anxiety or fear, go to God in prayer and read His word!