As we fast approach the end of days fear will greatly increase across all segments of society. And as a Christian pastor we cannot medicate our way out of this dilemma, nor can we simply ignore the problem. Because along with fear, comes erratic behavior. People have been known to do the strangest things when griped with uncontrollable fear. I have seen people construct tinfoil hats to protect them from the gamma rays of unseen aliens to running away from their family and ending up on the streets as a homeless person. It is well documented that out of fear it has driven some people to murder others or even commit suicide, because they are no longer able to cope with the fear that has possessed them; they unknowingly allow the devil to do his work. Although at this point these cases are typically the extreme many others still remain silently traumatized with fear and sit on a powder keg that can go off any minute.

So as a Christian what can we do? We must go way beyond coping with our fear to actually casting it out so that it’s no longer a force that controls our lives. The Apostle John, also known as the Apostle of Love dealt with this very topic, yet many Christians have missed this teaching all together. They follow the world in succumbing to the power of fear and attempting to find its remedy. So let’s not miss this beautiful teaching in the Bible that says; “The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:18c). Let’s be perfectly clear about what kind of love we are talking about. Quite honestly worldly love will not do, because it always expects something in return. I will love you but I expect you to love me in return, which means if I do something for you then I expect you to do something for me. Then there is also the love that says I will love you, but you better never do anything to me that I don’t like, again we are talking about worldly love.  This kind of love will not drive out fear.

On the other hand perfect love, the kind that drives out fear, is a self-giving love without expecting anything in return. This is the kind of love that keeps on giving even in the face of opposition – even at this level many of you may already be raising your westernized eyebrows. But we are not finished. Perfect love takes it a step further by giving yourself completely for the good of others. The best human example is the love a Mother has for her baby. In most cases a Mother will die for her baby, moreover, there is nothing that baby could possibly do to dilute a Mother’s love. Our perfect example, however, is the one that Jesus Christ gave us when He allowed Himself to be beaten, scourged, and put on a Cross so that we could have salvation – a new life in Him. Christ’s perfect love for the world caused Him to have no fear. “There is no fear in love” (I John 4:18a).  But what is our practical application?  When we truly die to self, no one can really hurt us. When we think only about the good of others and act on it as Christ did in a selfless act of courage then our love is truly perfected. Fear not!

This was a topic so important to our Lord Jesus Christ that He gave a dire warning to any who would cause others to stumble into sin and bring harm to themselves. “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourself’” (Luke 17:1-3). How dire was this warning? To be thrown into the sea was a horrific thought to the ancients who still believed that sea monsters roamed the depths of the sea. Clearly it teaches that those who would cause other Christians to sin could live a shorter life than planned. So it is prudent to ask our self the question how can I not cause others to sin. As we approach the negative it’s important to have an open and teachable heart.

We will all admit that it is difficult to live a holy life in an unholy world. Often times we find our self covering our eyes and ears to the profanity and sexually explicit content that invades our airwaves, but God forbid if it comes from another Christian. If a Christian woman dresses provocatively and it causes another believer for whom Christ died to think sexually immoral thoughts which is sin, then clearly the woman has caused her brother to stumble. Or if a Christian stands at the office water cooler and tells an off colored joke with sexual overtones then that too could cause another Christian to stumble into sin. And if they sin then they are not standing firm and may be the cause of others to stumble. This is only two examples on how we as Christians can cause another to stumble and sin against their heavenly Father.

So from a positive stand point how do we help other Christians to stand firm?   We must go out of our way to live a holy life at all times, but especially among the brethren. We can help others to stand by being an example in love and dedication to Christ and His Church. To tear other Christians down with hateful speech because their doctrinal beliefs are slightly different than ours is not an example of love. Should we not rather be building up one another with wholesome talk seasoned with salt? Should we not rather be walking in all manner of holiness to be an example to all the brethren? Should we not rather be going the extra mile in lifting others up by giving of our time and resources in helping them to stand firm in the coming days? Every time we help other Christians to stand firm we are helping the whole body of believers and thus helping our self.  They say that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So let me encourage you to seek out those weak links and help them to stand firm in 2012 and beyond.

Unfortunately, many Christians have been so assimilated into the social fabric of our world that it’s difficult to recognize them as being any different than the average person.  Or if they are recognized as a Christian they are found to be quite immoral, blatantly opinionated, and harshly judgmental.  As the world recoils in one natural disaster after another the prophetic message to a dying world is ridiculed or simply ignored. God’s message of love is completely lost among the pagan do-gooders or openly rejected as a clanging cymbal of empty rhetoric. Sadly many so called Christians are swept away by the same flood of dissipation as the pagan world and have lost their footing not allowing them to stand firm.

As we approach another year of uncertainty, a mounting national debt, a possible economic earthquake, lawlessness in our streets, and a real threat from foreign enemies one begins to wonder how he can stand firm. As the storm clouds arise and another pending catastrophe looms on the horizon one wonders deeply how he can stand firm in 2012 and beyond. As the world rushes to purchase more guns, store up food, and harden their heart to the less fortunate one may question their own ability to stand. As excessive passion is demonstrated to force a candidate to victory in order to save the world from its pending doom it boggles the mind and still leaves the question on how to stand firm unanswered.

So we must return to our original question; “What is the one thing you can do to stand firm in 2012?” As a born-again Christian you must allow transformation to take place in your life. You must be growing from one degree of glory to another. That is the only way you will ever be able to stand firm. For many it might mean returning to the basics, getting back to the first principles of your faith asking God to help you put off the old life and put on the new. It will be a complete re-orientation for some who have been caught up in the ways of the world or in their favorite theological doctrine. You have been made into a new creation and it’s time to start acting like it allowing God’s love to flow through you to others.

As the world grows more ruthless and self centered you will grow more loving and other centered. As the world grows deeper in debt you have learned to live debt free. As the world has grown more materialistic you have learned the bondage of material items releasing them to the four winds. As the world has grown more dependent on government you have learned the humility in accepting any kind of work. If the only job you can find is washing dishes then be the best dishwasher you can be allowing your face to radiate God’s love as bright as the noon day sun. To do so will not only help you to stand firm in 2012 and beyond, but it will also allow you to experience the real joy of being a Christian.