The Ballestero Blog

Wuz Ya Skeered?

Most of us have enjoyed laughing at someone’s harmless fright. We especially enjoy their body language and their reactionary comments. Afterward, someone will ask the obvious question. “Wuz ya skeered?”

Most of us have been scared at some point. Scared by different things maybe, but scared nevertheless.

I Know What It Is Like To Be Scared!

Several of my young children have made uncounted efforts trying to scare me. They’ve tried everything from jumping out at me as I came around a corner in the house, to hiding in dark places waiting for me. So far they’ve always been disappointed in my lack of reaction. It disappoints them that I am not jumpy or easy to scare.

Just because I didn’t react to their attempts, doesn’t mean I’m a tough guy who has never been scared. Oh no. I really have been scared before.

As a 19-year-old evangelist, I found myself over 1,000 miles from home. I only had $1.50 in my pocket, and no place to go. I didn’t know where I where I was going to sleep that night, or where my next meal was coming from. I was scared.

A bear once swatted me from behind. It was Grizzly sow with two cubs. She knocked me airborne for over 10 feet.  I was camping in the Teton Mountains. (She killed a man four hours later just a half mile away.) I make no bones about it. I was scared.

I have been snake bitten by a Cotton Mouth, a Water Moccasin, and a Copperhead. I once shot the head off of a Diamondback Rattler in the Mountains that was coiled 10 inches away from my ankle and ready to strike. I was scared.

I once stood in the Pediatric ICU Unit beside an incubator and held my newborn granddaughter in my arms and desperately prayed for a miracle. I was scared.

I hydroplaned in a VW late one rainy night in 1965. I went off the highway, hit a mailbox, and rolled the car three times. I crossed the grassy median and wound up on the other side of the four lane. I had landed upside down in the ditch facing the other direction. The driver’s door was jammed as a result. Gas was pouring everywhere. My 16-year-old younger sister broke both of her collarbones in the process. We couldn’t get out. I was scared.

A man kicked my kitchen door in late one night threatening to kill my wife, my children and myself. I held him until the police arrived. I was scared.

I once saw my 24ft travel trailer come along side car and try to pass me on Texas two lane road that was covered with black ice. My wife and baby son were in the car. I was scared.

I have had medical conditions that brought fear to me. I was scared.

I have seen some of those that I dearly love have spiritual struggles in their youth. I was scared.

I have sat in Emergency Rooms with my bleeding children. They had gashes and broken bones. Most of my children have had medical needs and procedures over the years that really made me pray. I’ve been scared.

I almost lost my precious wife after a kidney stone removal surgery last year. As they pulled the tube out of her throat after surgery, her gag reflex responded and she asphyxiated. Her lungs immediately filled with fluid. It took over five hours before they could stabilize her enough to bring her into the ICU Unit. After several days and a big miracle we got to go home. I was scared.

I suppose that all of my gentle readers could write volumes too about life moments that scared them.

The Bible Goes To Great Lengths Encouraging Us To:

• Fear not
• Be not afraid

We are told that God has not given us the spirit of fear.

These are beautiful, needed and timely words for us all. But there is one verse of scripture that tells us when to really be afraid.

All of our natural fears pale in comparison to this one!

It’s The Only Time The Word Of God Warns Us To Really Be Afraid.

Rom. 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Rom. 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Rom. 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

 

Rom. 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

 

Rom. 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Rom. 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Rom. 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Paul warned the church at Rome not to play with sin. He said if they wanted to be saved and do right, the preacher was their best friend.

But if they persisted in doing evil, then they needed to realize their pastor wasn’t some unimportant hireling whose warning could be ignored or overlooked.

Paul said, “But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid.”

Everyone that choses to live their life doing that which is evil in the eyes of God, you need to pay attention here. Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

I am sad to say, this generation seems to have lost its fear of God!