Asa and Ananias and Sapphira usually do not come to mind as being related, but the readings today certainly link them together. They start well but end trying do it “my way.”
Two other groups find real life as their faith overcomes all odds.
Asa brings much needed reforms to Judah, yet a threat from Baasha and human judgment takes over. Why? An old man tells Asa that if he does well he will be accepted and protected by the God of all the earth. It is easy to get rid of a few weak pagan prophets and places, yet those Israelite kings can be ruthless and murderous, and the Syrians — well I can see Syrians, I can see their power, and I can pay them to help me. When threatened by what he really feared, Asa resorts to what he really understands, and fails. Asa resorted to human judgment and power based on fear. How ironic that in his fear of threats against his power he falls. Fear opposes faith.
The early Christian husband and wife team start out with such a great promise — odd I really never thought of them as Christians, but they were, sharing the same great forgiveness and grace as all of those new believers. What brought them to lie? It appears that they wanted to be accepted, to look good to the church, and especially to the apostles, not to be rejected. Fear again steps in to cloud judgment. We cannot do what everyone else does. we cannot give it all away, but everyone else sacrifices so much and we will look badly. In one of the great passages often used to teach theology of the Holy Spirit, that He is of the Godhead, we miss the horrible irony: fear of rejection resulted in ultimate rejection by God. Fear opposes faith.
Having been released from prison the apostles and the church receive a renewed sense of boldness and strength to live and teach the Gospel. Their lives have already been given to the Lord Jesus; nothing remains that can be taken. So they move forward with the plan of God. Jehoshaphat believes the teaching from Moses, sends teachers back into Judah. His fervor brings refugees from Israel to the powerful draw of God’s wisdom and the covenant.
What do I fear? Shall I trade the power of God’s love and promise for what I “know will work”, what I can see? what I can do? Shall I trust Him who faced His own fear to die for me?
Faith overcomes the world. 1 Jn. 5:4.
Related posts:
I agree, but add that “fear of the Lord” or awe of Him is a good thing. We have little Dustin staying with us and he fears hot things. So, he reaches out with his pointer finger and touches some hot food and signs “hot.” This is a healthy fear that prevents him from being burned. To enter into the presence of our Almighty King should warrant some fear. In fact the fear of God may help flame our faith and prevent us from making some bad choices that ends up getting us burned.
Yes, a reverence and fear of the Person and power of God, and fear of working against His purposes can result in a spiritual awakening and reorientation that leads to life. The fear I note above consumes the person with stiffling and inward turned doubt which refuses to rely on the God one cannot see and resort to the powers which do appear present and somewhat maleable to human will, which only results in failure. 1 Jn. 2:15-17.