Fear, guilt and shame. Individuals deal with them and they rule cultures in varying combinations. We are very naturally attracted to people who seen immune to these motivators. They appear to be the 'alpha dogs' to our fallen animal nature.
Shamelessness is anathema to the religious man but it is very attractive to the natural one. Freedom from shame seems like paradise. So does freedom from guilt and fear.
"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 'Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.' He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 'As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.' " Psalms 2:1-6 ESV
The King God has set on His right hand is the King of freedom. Perhaps God laughs because of the misplaced blame. Whole nations blame Him for their bondage and conspire to have Him removed from their schools and gatherings. They want to take knowledge away from their people thinking it will cure them from guilt and shame.
Empires and cultures have tried to do just this thing. They have come and gone but God remains forever.
God says to His Son...
" 'Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.' Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." Psalms 2:8-12 ESV
"The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." Psalms 19:9-11 KJV
Grace is a kiss. Be afraid not to live in it. Why... because of consequences? The consequences are not the guilt and shame the world projects. The clean awe of God is the beginning of wisdom. This love casts out all imitations. This fire will not burn us. It will only consume our bondage.
Once you kiss the Son He makes you free... really free. You become free of the guilt people impose on you. Free of the shame that makes you want to hide. Free of a life of avoidance.
That is what fear with torment does it makes people hide and do whatever is required to avoid pain.
"If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:6-7 ESV
People have turned this verse into some works program but read it. Who hides from the light? What child skulks in the shadows and takes a long way home. A child who is avoiding someone they are afraid of.
If we face God and kiss His Son then we will soon be convinced that fear of anything is needless and obsolete. What guilt? What shame? They do not exist when standing before God... only love, acceptance and memories of God's faithfulness.
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