Units of Measurement

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. -- 1 John 4:18

Often times we are involved in relationships that are fear-based.  Some of us work out of fear of losing all that we have or not having enough.  Sometimes we live and act out of fear of punishment.  Our behavior may be limited and defined by our fear of legal repercussions.  We may not go certain places or do certain things because of the fear of death or injury. 

In dating or, to use the more quaint and apparently outdated term, courting, the party with the least fear has an advantage.  To fear less, even to care less, is, within the world system, the way to go.  There would seem to be a positive correlation between love and fear in that the more we love, the more susceptible we are to fear of loss.  Every parent knows fear with regard to their child.  Everyone who cherishes something experiences dread now and then over the possibility that it might be damaged or destroyed.  Yet, the Bible says "perfect" love is the antidote to fear.  How can this be? 

John's focus is love for God and the love of God.  This world and all that it contains is always passing away, but God is eternal and unchangeable.  It is our relationship to the Eternal which counters and eliminates fear.  Faith and love are closely related.  If we love someone, we generally have faith in them.  Loyal and faithful service is an expression of love.  To be able to trust someone is to have no fear as to their favorable intentions toward us. 

Of course we know that good intentions on the part of even the best of individuals cannot guarantee results.  This is not the case with God.  If He intends to do us good, good will be done us though mountains must be cast into the sea.  To know the love of God, the perfect love of God, is to trust perfectly, to be confident not only about His good intent but His ability to shelter us even in the midst of storm and trial. 

I was talking to a man yesterday who just returned from China.  He was there speaking to members of the underground church.  It was a humbling experience.  These are believers who suffer under an oppressive government and are persecuted, sometimes in the extreme, for their faith in and love for Jesus.  Preaching about a a pretribulation rapture sounds somewhat hollow to people who know tribulation that we cannot imagine.  The same would be true of many of the Christians in Africa as well as those who suffer under Islamic regimes.  Fear would be justifiable in China, in Sudan, and in Iran just as it was in some places and at times in John's day. 

Yet to those who know God and trust Him fully and completely, fear is replaced by love.  The process may be gradual or sudden, once for all or somewhat uneven, but it is happening.  The more we know of Him, the better we understand Him, the more we love and trust, and the less we fear.  It can be a barometer of sorts for us.  When our love for the Lord is as perfect as the Lord Himself, we will be fearless.