Fear Knocked, Faith Answered
Monday, January 17th, 2011
On the doorway of an old pub somewhere in Europe was this inscription: Fear knocked, faith answered and there was no one there. It has been years since we first saw that, but I’ve never forgotten it. I guess it’s because I’ve had to try out the truth of it so many times. Try it yourself!
Think of how fear knocks…a thundrous, huge-fisted, slam, slam,slam. The door is shattering with each blow. Your response is not one of moving towards the door, you want to run for cover immediately, you are overwhelmed by the SIZE of the sound. Your heart is beating wildly. There must be something very huge and very strong on the other side of that door, and it isn’t anyone you know! The purpose is intimidation. To make you cower, to keep you from facing it, from seeing who’s there and taking your place in opposition.
“My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him…..Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see.” Heb.10,11.
Well, we hope for Someone to be always present with us as He has promised. We hope that the impossible is possible. We hope that light will overpower darkness. We hope that in our weakness we are made strong. We hope that good will triumph over evil. We hope that the protection that Daniel had in the lions’ den will be there for us. Hope is sometimes where we start on the path to faith. The only way we will get SURE and CERTAIN is if we face it and watch what happens.
When I was a child I often would see yellow eyes staring at me when I was in bed. I would be terrified by them. I would lay there for what seemed like a long time and finally I would get enough courage to run into my big sister’s bed and instantly no more yellow eyes. Isn’t that interesting? Doesn’t that say something about the power of community? Just being beside another Christian brought strength to me and cancelled the enemy’s power to intimidate a little kid.
It is the same when we are big, when our enemy is pounding on the door if we have a brother or sister beside us it gives us faith to answer the door. So often he disappears, and there is no one there, because his real power is in intimidation. He loves to be seen as God’s co-equal, or better yet, God’s LARGER opponent who is WINNING. He is not. He was created by God from nothing. He was likely an angel who desired the worship that is due to God alone.
As an adult, I have had many times when fear knocked at the door. Sometimes it has taken me some time to realize what is happening, because sometimes it seems so true, but when I can realize that it is the enemy, I have a habit of going right to the door. By now I know it is such a waste of time to stare into those yellow eyes, they only sap my strength. It is so much better to just go and answer the door and have the relief of knowing there is no one there.
I think I hear a few yes….buts.