For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1 v7

We live in a culture that has turned its back on Christ and reembraced paganism. Our new gods, such as tolerance, diversity and inclusion, as much as they are worshipped are yet pasty thin and provide no substance.

When the spectre of fear comes calling they offer nothing.

And you can see it, watching people overreact to the latest crisis, whether that’s stripping the shelves bare of toilet paper in 2020, or running the pumps dry in 2021.

Can you imagine what would happen if a crisis hit us that was a little higher on the existential scale? The kind of threat that has plagued societies in the past, and in many places that are closer to the earth, still do.

If this life is all you have you’ll do anything to protect it. Anything at all.

I don’t say this to breed fear in turn. But so we would WAKE UP and see where we are. Where society turns and our place in it. In the times to come, we will be either one of the faceless masses

… tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 

Ephesians 4 v14

Or…

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Ephesians 4 v15

However, there is one fear that is the first step on the path of life – the fear of the Lord. The first step in orienting yourself the right way up and finding the one Place – the Rock, the Cornerstone who will be the fortress of your life. A Place that can never be overcome, because He has already overcome all.

The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
    he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
    a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
    the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33 v5-6