Have No Fear Series

It was reported on Friday that the track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson, who was set for a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Tokyo Olympics, could miss the Games after testing positive for marijuana. Sha’Carri, 21, won the women’s 100-meter race at the U.S. track and field trials in Oregon last month, but her positive test automatically invalidated her result in that marquee event. The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced the positive test result Friday morning, and said Ms. Richardson had accepted a suspension of one month, starting on June 28. She may be able to run in the relay races that take place later in the Games — that is, if she is even named to the U.S. team. In a TV interview on Friday, Ms. Richardson said that she used marijuana as a way to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother while she was in Oregon for the Olympic trials. The news struck a cord within Lady Sharon and I because of the struggles we see with drug and alcohol use in our local Christian community. And just as the Bible teaches that alcohol is a mocker I believe that marijuana is a liar. The world has accepted the fact that alcohol, cocaine, heroine and even caffeine are addictive substances but continues to spread the lie that somehow cannabis is not addictive. As my wife and I listened to the young lady’s remorse we noted that she used the same words that we have heard over and over in our counseling sessions. She said that she used this drug “to deal with the pain” of her bereavement. But I need to share with you all that there is better way to deal with pain! There is better way to deal with sadness! There is better way to deal with loss! And it’s not the way of the world! Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Sha’Carri posted on social media “I am human” and she is right! We all need something that goes beyond our human weakness to help us deal with all the pain this world throws at us! You cannot do this alone! You are only human! You need Jesus! Peter says, Have No Fear!

In our text today, Peter has moved to the issue that dominants the remainder of his letter: the issue of Christians who suffer. Despite our best efforts, the fact is that Christians contract Covid, cancer and heart disease, Christians become deaf and blind, and Yes Christians get depressed and sometimes even use substances knowing that the results could be devastating to their careers. The Bible makes no attempt to whitewash the anguish of God’s people when it comes to suffering. All through Scripture, we see believers facing suffering who argue with God, complain to God, and weep before God. Yet Peter offers the only solution to the reality of suffering that is as true today as when he wrote it 2000 years ago, “Have No Fear of them, nor be troubled.”

# Someone asked C.S. Lewis, “Why do the righteous suffer?” “Why not?” he replied. “They’re the only ones who should be able to take it.”

Peter has just told us in verse 12 that God is watching our actions and His eyes are upon the righteous and His ears hear their prayer. So in verse 13, Peter asks a rhetorical question, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” While suffering stalks the believer until Jesus Christ returns, the pain inflicted upon the Christian is temporary. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” The Bible records for us “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12. Peter tells to, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy…” In other words, sanctifying Christ as Lord in your heart is the alternative to fearing man. Don’t fear man, honor Jesus as Lord. To break the grip of fear we must confess the lordship of Jesus Christ not just in our minds but in our hearts. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be your name” Matthew 6:7. This means, “Father, cause your name to be blessed and revered among all people in the church and all over the world” Paul asks us, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. The enemies of Christ may hurt us but they cannot ultimately harm us. Peter teaches that God is blessed and honored when we show that our hope is unshakable. Christian hope isn’t optimism that things will get better. Hope is a conviction in the LORD Jesus Christ. Hope is the visible reminder of an invisible authority. So, because Jesus is Lord, we have no fear! This lesson teaches us that we must be…