“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:18-19).
The late Columnist Ann Landers received 10,000 letters per month. When she was asked to name the predominant problem her writers faced she said, “Fear.” Fear is a universal problem. The worst fear we can face, though, is the fear that God is going to punish us. No one likes punishment, much less punishment that may issue from God Himself.
The one truth that can free us from this terrible grip of fear is that God loves us. That’s what John meant when he said, “We love because he first loved us.” Our freedom from fear began with Him loving us. When we realize how much we are loved by God, and when we open our hearts to that love, there is no more room for fear. “Perfect love drives out fear.”
So, where in this imperfect world can I find perfect love? I find it in the heart of the Father who gave His Son for me. I find it in the heart of the Son who died in my place so I could live. When we realize how perfectly God loves us and open our hearts to receive that love, we have no reason to be afraid. We can pass that love on to others.
