I grew up watching black and white TV. When color TV’s came out the people were more often a weird shade of pink or purple. Somehow my mind processed that without a problem, and it didn’t seem too odd. Anyway, there were several shows and movies where the pink or purplish hero would either be chasing someone or they would be chased into the jungle or the woods and then without any warning they would accidentally find themselves in the middle of a pool of quicksand. I have to tell you that as a kid, quicksand was some scary stuff. It seemed that the more they struggled to get out the deeper and faster they would sink. The only hope was for someone with a rope and a horse to hear them calling out for help and they would have to come throw a lasso over them and pull them out. Growing up on the Gulf Coast where the soil was a sandy loam, it seemed like the perfect location for quicksand if there ever was one. As a result, whenever I went into the woods, I always tried to have a friend go with me and whenever possible I would encourage them to go first. Fortunately, I don’t know of anyone who actually got into any quicksand. I had a fear that was purely based on TV and the media and that did not present any real threat or danger. I was thinking today, “Nothing has changed.”
Did you know that the Bible declares 365 times the words, “Do not be afraid.” It is not a coincidence that there is one "Do not be afraid" verse for every day of the year. Every single day we need to be reminded that we do not need to be afraid. We don’t need to focus too hard on what the media tells us. The absolute truth is that, God’s people have nothing to fear as they lean into and on His everlasting arms. He has promised to provide for us (regardless of what the stock market does), He has promised to protect us (when the shadow of the coronavirus is near), and He will comfort us and give us perfect peace (even when the news media tells us extreme danger is near.) When I call out to Him, He says, “I’ve got you.” Most important, I know that if somehow I ever happen to fall into a pool of quicksand, He will rescue me. Because, He rides a white horse and He will pull me through.
“11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True . . .” Revelation 19:11 (NKJV)
"Do not be afraid" for the Lord our God is with us.
Pastor John