Carbon taxes, higher food prices, food banks not being able to keep up with demand, fuel prices make it tougher to get to work and the argument in the halls of government is all about money. Is anyone else besides me getting tired of it all? As I sit here writing this article, all I can think of is “what would Jesus do?” Go back in time when the Romans exacted a tax on the people for their “protection” and then the local rulers, the king and his people, would exact another tax. Combine this with municipal taxes, the temple taxes and the skim by the tax collectors and I dare say there would be much left to fuel up the donkey to get to work. Good thing most worked from home or in close proximity to their jobs. So, consider this, there are only two things that are certain, death and taxes. Levels of leadership will always try to get the most of everything they can from everyone but at some point in time they will either see the errors of their ways and back down or they will find themselves on the outside of the halls of leadership while another group rewards the common folk for their support by lowering the taxes. This is only temporary (review history), so why fear? Instead of fearing the taxman, prepare for the inevitable and rejoice when you are correct in your assumption and preparation.
Same goes for fear of death. So many times, I have sat with people who are facing their last moments on earth, and they inform me they are scared. Going to get this out there right now, I am almost certain I will be fearful when it is my time and I do hope that someone will remind me that my Saviour is awaiting my arrival. You see, we are only human and tend to forget there is more to life than what we know on earth. When my time is up on this planet, there is still eternity awaiting where there is no more sorrow and no more pain. Love rules and chaos is no longer in the equation. I am no longer a slave to the fear of death because my Lord has made us all a promise that should eliminate our fear.
"Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” John 14:1-7 NLT
Thomas noted that he had no clue where Jesus was going, and Jesus made sure Thomas knew the full truth. There are a lot of people who are fearful because they are unaware of Christ’s promise. I am no longer a slave to the fear of death because I know there is something beyond the grave. My fear would be not knowing what the future holds if I did not have faith in Christ.
This week, Pastor Todd returns with a sermon series on No Longer A Slave To Fear. The service will be broadcast online on our website (https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 10:30 AM, at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.
Blessings,
Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”
