DIVINE LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR THAT TORMENTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 9, 18 October 1948, Page 7

DIVINE LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR THAT TORMENTS

(Contributed by the Ministers’ Association) John has told us that there is no fear in love—but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment. If we were to ask some folk which they considered the greater“fear” or “love” they would unhesitatingly reply, “fear.” And then they would go on to say, “and only too well we know it—fear in many forms, blighting life’s happiness and peace of mind; slavish fear of life’s varied conflicts, fear of ill-health, fear of poverty and fear of what life’s tomorrow may bring forth.” It is true that when we feel alone in life’s conflicts fear is a very real force and power in itself. Fear that is slavish fear spells misery for it’s victim and it paralysis the peace of mind of the one concerned. But the Christian knows that such is not the will of God for us. If slavish fear possesses us and haunts us to distraction we have not learned to know 11 God. $ A greater force than fear is love, and love is the supreme force in the world today, despite the fact that in the face of world events fear seems to be the predominant power. God is Himself expressed to those who are prepared to receive Him as a God of love. He so loved us that love came down to earth with His loving Son and Divine Love was crucified on Calvary’s Cross to prove that God’s love is able to over-rule all things, including the slavish fears of troubled men. His is perfect love, and perfect love casts out the fears that have torments. When we find God, lovfe and peace become our priceless possessions and we can laugh at all our fears. Let the following poem, found on the body of an American soldier during an invasion, tell its own story, showing how perfect love casts out all fear.

Look God, I have never spoken to you, But now I want to today—How do You do? You see God, they .told me You - didn’t exist, And like a fool I believed all this. | Last night from a shell hole I saw Your sky, I figured, right then, they had tolcj. me a lie. Had I taken time to see things You made, \ I’d have known they weren’t calling a spade a spade. ■ I wonder God, if you’d shake my hand, Sohehow I feel You will ' understand, Funny, I had to come to this hellish place, f Before I had time to see Your face. Well, I guess that isn’t much more ‘to say, But, I’m glad, God, I met you today, I guess the zero hour will soon be here, But I’m not afraid since I knov/ you are near. The signal! Well, God, I’ll have to go, I like you lots, and I want you to know. Look, now: this will be a horrible fight; Who knows—l may come to your house % tonight. Though I wasn’t friendly to you before, I wonder, God, if you’d wait at your door?? Look, I’m crying—me shedding tears; I wish I’d known you these many years. Well, I have to go God, goodbye, . ‘ Strange; since I met you I’m not afraid to die.