The Lord God: His Providence Reigns
By: Jeremiah J. H. Lee
Tags: Fear, Jesus, Covid 19, Elections, God

Return to the only fear we are to have — Fear the Lord (Matt. 10:26–33)

Fear — it is all around; there is no escaping it.

In November, a Chinese-made virus was the last thing anyone was talking about, but it would soon become the most influential catalyst in the world…

In November, the American economy was in its longest expansion in the history of the Republic, stock markets were hitting all-time highs, and unemployment was at its lowest rate in 50 years, but that all came to an end in February, a few short months later…

In November, the presidential election was a year away, but the country was on the verge of being thrust into a period of chaos and civil unrest that would start with a vote…

In November, newly released music from Kanye West topped Billboard for the no.1 spot, but it was Christian music. There was talk of a new Great Awakening, but just a few short months later the church would be forced to stop singing and meeting — in some places indefinitely...

Life, as was known, was good. There was health, wealth, hope, and faith present all over society. People, businesses, politics, and the faithful were all prospering. The prosperity meant that the only fear present was the fear that it would all end because the other political party would take over. There was no good fear though, there was barely any fear unless you frequented cable news. But where there was no fear (or very little of it) would soon change in an instant. A microscopic spark lit a tinder of fear, unease, and panic, which grew into a scorching flame that is destroying everything.

Where there once was no fear, now there is only fear.

People are afraid to go outside, travel, go to work, and go to church. Businesses are fearful of or complacent to the “Marxist mob” as they kowtow to any social pressure to affirm the Left. The MLB (Boston Red Socks), NBA, NFL, and eighteen multibillion dollar corporations (Amazon, DoorDash, Microsoft, Airbnb, etc.) to name a few have cowered to the vocal mob that demands the abandonment of property, the family, and the Constitution.

Conservatives fear a civil war and liberals fear a contested presidential election. Both are fearful of one another and that has only continue to heighten. Fear only increased in the church as Christians forgo reading the Bible but have become interested in the end times events associated with what is currently transpiring. But this fear of everything is not good, in fact, it is evil and must be corrected with the one and only true answer to fear.

To all of the fear present throughout society there is one answer: אֱלֹהִים — Elohim.

Elohim is a Hebrew name of God that denotes power, judgment, and rulership. In essence the name is meant to convey that God is the supreme one. It is important to understand that God’s supremacy is not conditional upon a person letting him into his life, when the right people are in political office, there is not a pandemic or death everywhere. God’s supremacy “is over all” in every circumstance and situation: “The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.”

The paramount piece of God’s supremacy is in the realm of fear. Throughout the entire Bible man is only ever called to fear one thing: God. Because God is supreme over everything we have only him to fear; he is above sickness and famine, instability and war, worry and all fear in this life.

When godless-fear is allowed to persist it naturally forms into idolatry. If sickness and death are the fears then idolatry of self, of doctors, and of medicines/remedies are made God. In all truth, God is the one who allows sickness and disease, as in the times of the Moses in both Egypt and the wilderness wanderings. Health is not God’s goal because sickness is a result of sin and sin will persist until we are in Paradise with God.

The lack of physical needs are not to be a concern, for the Lord is he who provides for one’s basic needs. Finances, food, shelter, et al. are those things which the Lord provides his faithful, because he is love and he does not abandon his own. What is to be feared properly is the Lord; without this fear then there is more to fear than not having the needs of the body. Fear of tomorrow and fear of lack is misplaced and idolatrous — Christ provides because he created all.

Government is the age-old idol of all mankind. Fear leads to people placing their trust and reverence in government to abate all uncertainly. He who is elected and holds the power is the coveted leader who becomes the savior of a people. Under the façade of control, especially in a democracy or republic, there is belief that the people pick their leaders, but the Lord says otherwise. The Lord raises and lowers those who are “in control” for his purposes, just as he is currently doing. Regardless of who is in power, our Father is behind the course of man’s events and actions. Since the Lord is fully and exclusively in control he is the one who should be feared, for this thought alone shows his immense power and might.

Even those institutions that are good can become vehicles of improper fear, such as the church. Misplaced fear concerning the efficacy of the church leads to religious Pharisaicalism that leads one to become concerned that the church is the only means by which one can be saved. In truth, Jesus the Messiah is the exclusive way to the Father, not the church. The church is the Lord’s body and is not so because of what the church does, but what Christ has done. Fear of damnation leading to concern for where one will end up after this life is a healthy concern, but if the fear leads to trust in a religious system then the fear is damning in and of itself. Fear of damnation leading one to Christ is healthy fear since it ends in fear of the Lord, and not damnation.

There is so much to fear in America; there is even more to fear in the world. Chaos is abundant and growing by the day. Instability and uncertainty characterize today, and both are catalysts for fear. But fear arising from these current situations that mankind is experiencing should not lead to misplaced trust and fear in anything beside the Lord. He alone is to be feared for all else is temporary and matchless when compared to Elohim.

Elohim is to be our sole fear object. Fear of him as reverence is that which brings about salvation because a proper understanding of who he is directly expels any and all other fear. Once this reverential fear of the Lord is had, then all else becomes miniscule. Regardless of the tyranny, chaos, horror, uncertainty, instability, or evil that runs rampant in the world, the Lord is still on his throne. He is above all and nothing or no one can stand against what he has established.

In the end, the Lord’s plan will prevail despite the onslaught of sin and evil. Because of this truth now is the time to trust in the Lord and fear Elohim, for Providence reigns as it always has.