You know that sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize you have made a horrible mistake? Or how about that feeling of helplessness when you experience true fear? What about that feeling you get when you realize that everything you have stood for, have worked for, have fought for your whole life has been wrong? Fear, regret, sorrow. Very uncomfortable feelings that stem from real life problems. Problems that you have caused. Problems that you thought were hidden. Problems you didn’t even realize existed until someone made you face the truth about your situation.
To listen to some teachers and preachers, the message of Christ, the gospel, is all about feeling good, being successful in life, experiencing peace, joy and happiness. That’s not always the case. Yes, the gospel is good news. It does bring about peace, joy and happiness but for many…for most…it initially brings exceeding feelings of fear, regret, and sorrow.
Take a look at the Jews who had gathered to celebrate Pentecost in Acts 2. As they listened to Peter talk, they began to realize that they had made an awful mistake. A very awful mistake. Jesus who they thought was a blasphemer was actually the very Messiah they had been waiting for their whole lives. Just imagine the sickening, deep in the pit of the stomach feeling that overpowered them as they realized they had killed the promised Messiah. As they heard the words, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ,” all they could say in response was, “What shall we do?” They realized the gravity of the deed they had done. They were sorrowful. They were cut to the heart.
What did Peter answer them? Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Their sorrow at the evil deed they realized they had done, that sick feeling in the pit of their stomach could now be remedied by obeying the One they had just days before insisted be crucified.
Fear is not an emotion a Roman leader would want the world to remember him for but that is the case with Felix in Acts 24. When Felix called Paul to hear what he had to say, Paul didn’t hold anything back. He talked to him plainly and pointedly about the problems Felix was experiencing in his own life. Paul talked to him about righteousness, about self-control. Who else other than Paul would have been bold enough to talk to the very Roman leader who had control over whether he lived or died while in his custody. Paul told Felix what he needed to hear and then to top it off, he told him about the judgment to come. Paul pointed out Felix’s short-comings and then told him how he would be held accountable for it all. No special treatment because of his political status. Felix would face the same judgment as everyone else. Felix was afraid. He didn’t want to hear anymore. He sent Paul away. He didn’t want to face the truth. He truly couldn’t handle the truth.
Speaking of Paul. What about his moment of truth? Paul was a good Jew. He had been trained by the best and proudly did everything he could even to the point of murder to punish those who chose to follow Jesus’ teachings. That is until the day he came face to face with the risen Christ Himself. On his way to seek out and imprison Christians, Christ appeared to Paul. When Saul (as he was known then) saw the blinding, bright light and heard the voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” he realized that he was wrong. What he thought all his life about God, about the Messiah, about his position in Jewish society had been wrong. Everything he stood for, the very things he was planning to do on this trip, were wrong. Here was the Christ talking to him. Acts 9 tells us that Saul fell to the ground trembling in astonishment. The overwhelming feelings of fear, awe, sorrow and regret came over him. His next words demonstrated that he realized that he had been wrong — “Lord, what do you want me to do.”
Paul followed Christ’s instructions just as those in Acts 2 did. They were both told to repent and be baptized. Their fear, their sorrow, their sickening feeling of regret was, now that they followed the instructions they were given, turned to peace, joy and happiness.
If hearing about the good news leaves you feeling uneasy, uncomfortable, even afraid, that is a good thing. It is the first step to change. Don’t be a Felix. Have the courage to face your problems and listen to the truth. All of the things you have done that leave you feeling that miserable sick to the stomach feeling can be forgiven by following the same instructions given the Jews in Acts 2 and Saul in Acts 9. The guilt, the sorrow, the loneliness, the hopelessness can be turned to peace, joy and happiness. Because God is the source of those beautiful feelings, believing Him and obeying Him will, even in the midst of difficulties that face us all, bring us true peace, joy and happiness.
Acts 2:36-39 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 24:24-25 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
Acts 9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do… …And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Diana
Fear can indeed paralyze–or send one into hiding or denial. Facing our fears takes real courage. May we all have courage. Thank you Diane.