THE ORIGIN OF FEAR
The downfall of Adam in the Garden of Eden exposed a number of deficiencies about man. In fact, the very first of such deficiency was coined by man himself thus “He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid … ”–Genesis 3:10
In the Scripture above, it’s clear that fear originated from man’s downfall to sin. Consequently, man started to doubt his ability and purpose.
It’s important to note that, the Spirit of God which was input into man from inception was completely devoid of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). It therefore follows that fear crept into man when he decided to explore his freewill albeit in a manner not consistent with God’s will.
Ever since, man has had to contend with the newfangled imagination that he had created for himself — FEAR.
SOME PRODUCTS OF FEAR
Following on from Adam’s experience in the Garden of Eden, it’s evident that fear can produce a number of negative effects as listed below:
- Irresponsibility: God’s original design was always for Adam to “take charge …” but fear made him hide away from God and all that was put in his care.
- Regret: This could be sensed in Adam’s immediate response to God post his downfall, as it became apparent to him that he had missed the opportunity to fulfill God’s will.
- Doubt: The Loss of Adam’s dominion in the Garden of Eden affected his self-worth so much so that he realised that he was naked and no longer fit to appear before God like he always did.
Fear torments (1 John 4:18). Do all you can to live above fear.
HOW TO LIVE ABOVE FEAR
God doesn’t want us to live under the grip of fear. He does this regularly by reminding us through the power of His word. Below are a few helpful tips:
- Always eschew sin: It’s imperative to live a lifestyle of holiness as a precursor of dominion over fear.
- Always remain bold and courageous: Often times God reminds us of the need to stay bold and courageous especially through new life experiences (Joshua 1:1-9).
- Always draw strength from His word: Often times fear comes through ambiguous life choices that leave us perplexed and confounded. But God’s word is always able to provide clarity and direction (Psalm 119:105).
Living above fear is an important requirement for a successful Christian lifestyle. So, do not be afraid.
