Faith Over Fear
By Jeff Cranston
You have probably heard of the fable “The Hare & the Tortoise.” The story begins with the hare making fun of the tortoise for being so slow. The tortoise, not liking the teasing, challenges the hare to a race. The hare is confident of winning, so he stops during the race and falls asleep. The tortoise, however, doesn’t stop and continues to move very slowly, and he finally wins the race. This story teaches us the importance of being steady and consistent. But what we weren’t told is how rare those traits actually are.
Think about it, how many people do you know who are steadfast? How many people do you know who are consistent and steady in life? One? Two? Our culture glorifies the hare. He’s exciting. He’s dangerous. He’s fast and fun to watch. Let’s be honest, he gets all the attention. The tortoise on the other hand is seen as boring, slow, methodical, even, steady, and focused. These are traits we could use more of in this world. And that’s what the apostle Paul has in mind as he writes to Timothy. Read 2 Timothy 1:6-12.
Why we can be bold
In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul reminds Timothy to kindle afresh, to stir up, to keep in full flame the gift of God. Timothy was a gifted, valuable man for the kingdom of God; but he seems to have had a timid streak in him. For this reason, Paul often encouraged him to be strong and bold.
Timothy had a large and heavy responsibility as the overseer of God’s work in Ephesus and the larger area. He already had a shepherd’s tender heart for the sheep, but Paul wanted to develop within him the boldness necessary to really lead and protect the flock.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul also reminds Timothy that God has not given him a spirit of timidity. Like Timothy, we all face situations where we feel timid and afraid. The first step in dealing with such fears is to understand that fear isn’t from God. What God does give us are power, love and discipline. Therefore, the second step in dealing with fear is understanding what God has given us: a spirit of power. When we do His work, proclaim His Word, represent His kingdom, we have all His power supporting us. We are safe in His hands.
God has given us a spirit of love. Many think of power in terms of how much we can control others; but Jesus’ power is expressed in how much we can love and serve others. This type of love is one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. True Christian love, energized by the Holy Spirit, enables us to sacrifice for others and not be afraid.
God has also given us discipline. The ancient Greek word here is the idea of a calm, self-controlled mind as opposed to the panic and confusion that comes with a fear-filled mind. This describes the person who has his or her life under control and is sensibly minded and balanced.
Fear, cowardice and timidity will keep us from using the gifts God gives us. He desires that each of us take His power, His love, and His calm thinking and overcome fear, to be used of Him with all the gifts He gives. That is why you and I can be BOLD!
What and who we are to be bold with
In 2 Timothy 1:8, Paul tells Timothy that if he took the courage God gave, he would not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. We often fail to understand that it wasn’t, and isn’t, easy to follow a crucified Master. Today, we have sanitized Jesus and disinfected the cross, making it all safe. But in the day Paul wrote this, it would seem strange indeed to follow a crucified man and call him Savior. Paul knew that the plan of God in Jesus Christ seemed foolish to many; but he also knew it was the living, active, power of God to save souls and transform lives. Paul would not be ashamed of it, and neither should Timothy—nor should we.
In the same verse, Paul says that he is a prisoner of Jesus (“ … His prisoner… ” ). He saw God as the Lord of every circumstance, and if he was free, he was the Lord’s free man; if he were imprisoned, he was the Lord’s prisoner. It wasn’t enough that Paul told Timothy to not be ashamed of him and his chains; he also invited Timothy to share in all of it (“ … but join with me in suffering … ”). Paul is inviting Timothy to suffer hardship, evil and affliction right along with him.
And we are called to join persecuted Christians throughout the world in their suffering. What can you do to help? You can pray, you can volunteer, you can write letters and email, you can be an advocate, you can donate. Check out a ministry called Open Doors. They have done a marvelous work for many years coming alongside the persecuted church.
What we are to be bold about
The message Paul gave to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:9-10 is God’s plan of salvation:
“ … who has saved us … ” = salvation from eternal death and the punishment and misery consequent to sin; saved that He might grant to us eternal life.
“ … who has called us … ” = this is an invitation to the Kingdom of God and all its privileges; divine call by which Christians are introduced into the privileges of the gospel.
“ … not according to our works, but according to His own purpose … ” = This explains why God called us. It wasn’t because of anything great we had done, but because it fits in with His purpose—because He wanted to.
“… and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity … ” = God directed His gracious work towards us when we only existed as a fact in God’s knowledge. Just as a couple lovingly plans for a baby before the baby is born, so God planned for us.
“ … from all eternity … ” = reminds us that time is something God created to give order and arrangement to our present world; time is not essential to God’s existence. He existed before time was created and will remain when time ends, and we live on in eternity with Him.
“ … but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus …” = The appearing of Jesus has made apparent, made manifest, made known openly shown the purpose and grace of God. Jesus fulfilled the eternal plan of God; Jesus truly shows us what God and His plan are all about. That’s why we can never know Jesus too much; why we will never exhaust our knowledge of Him.
“ …who abolished death … ” Because of the appearing of Jesus, death isn’t death anymore. In regard to believers, the Bible refers to death as sleep—not because we are unconscious, but because it is pleasant and peaceful. Death does not take anything from the Christian; it graduates them to glory.
“ … and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel … ” Christ is not only the Destroyer of death, as the book of Hebrews refers to Him, but He was also the Revealer of life and immortality. In the Old Testament, the doctrines of eternal life, death, resurrection, and the eternal state were in the shadows. Here and there you find glimpses of light; but for the most part, the picture is dark. But then Jesus Christ shone His light—bringing illumination— on death and the grave. Through the gospel, He has given us assurance of eternal life, resurrection, and the certain hope of heaven.
The foundation of our boldness
In 2 Timothy 1:11-12, we can almost sense Paul growing in strength as he penned these words; he understood again that it was a privilege to suffer for such a great gospel—so far from being ashamed, he was honored.
Flashing through his mind were the sermons he preached as he heralded the gospel and precepts of God’s Word, the churches he founded and led as a commissioned-by-Jesus apostle, and the diverse ethnicities he brought to Jesus Christ as a teacher of the Gentiles.
Paul knew that though he preached a wonderful message, it cost him dearly along the way. His present suffering in prison was because of this heavenly appointment. This explains why Paul was so bold in his work, and how he could feel honored by circumstances that might make others feel ashamed. He said that it was because he knows God, and because of that knowledge, it results in adoration.
As important and right biblical doctrine and theology are, they do not lead to salvation. Paul had deposited his soul in the care of a Person—Jesus Christ—and was certain that Jesus would faithfully guard that deposit. He wrote, “He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day … ” What day? Paul had in mind either the day he would see Jesus or the day Jesus came for him. Paul and Timothy both lived in such awareness of that day that Paul didn’t need to identify it more than that.
Running the race
You and I are running a race. We run for the prize of the upward calling of Christ Jesus. If you are breathing, you are already running.
The good news is you can become more tortoise-like. You can become steadfast. Focus can be trained. Self-control can be built. Discipline can be learned. The Holy Spirit makes it so in us.
The tortoise taught us what focused power and energy look like. In your walk with Jesus, you might have to overcome some naysayers who doubt your ability to beat the showy, attention-getting hare. You’ll also have to watch your step because it’s easy to accidentally trip over one or two sleeping hares who are probably dreaming about how fast they are. And you’ll have to keep your chin up as you get outrun by hares who are pretty sure they are going to beat you. But don’t worry, you’ll see them again on your way to the finish line. Happy racing!
Jeff Cranston is the lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, South Carolina.