Why fear?

Light, space, zest— that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. (Psalm 27:1)

Wow! Three simple words, but pretty all-inclusive of the character of God if you ask me! Light, space, and zest - what could he possibly have meant by using these words? We all have probably tried our best to describe God to someone at sometime in our lives. It is harder than you might think, isn't it? We launch out into some kind of lengthy explanation of what God does, how he moves among us, or even how he makes us feel. All the while, we are really struggling with giving anything truly "concrete" in our answer - we have an idea of how he 'acts', 'moves', and even how he makes us feel, but are we really describing God? What God declares about himself in this passage is simple and to the point! He is LIGHT, SPACE, and ZEST. 

Light - the very message we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in him there is no darkness at all (I John 1:5 NIV). In him we find all glory and majesty - the two things that can be said to represent 'light'. No wonder scripture repeatedly refers to God as "light" - it is not something that is so much "in" him - it is that he is the perfect and purest LIGHT that exists. There is no darkness within him because he is holy and his absolute holiness reflects in the purest of Light. If we were to describe God's holiness, we could use 'light' and we'd be 'spot on' in our descriptor.

Space - John 4:24 tells us God is "Spirit". Perhaps this is the best way for us to understand just how he can be with everyone at one time, knowing all things, and being all powerful to boot. He transcends the limitations of our finite human nature, making it hard for us to comprehend God because he doesn't fit within 'space' - he is space itself. He is above all, in all, and creator of all. As such, he is like "space". Unlimited and totally uncalculated in greatness. Try as we might, we cannot "box" God in - he is not an equation - something we can sum up! He is not limited - therefore he is beyond explanation.

Zest - he gives liveliness to all he animates and that includes each of us. In him is the inherent ability to impart the truest form of energy - that which animates and gives abundant life to a lifeless or dead soul! Sin robs us of this "animation" of spirit - God's touch restores it! I guess we might describe God as a 'life giver', but also we could describe him as the very thing that gives life that 'oomph' we all need. No wonder David stands so assured when he considers the one who is "on his side" in his daily walk! The purest of the pure - able to push back all darkness. The limitless one - powerful beyond our calculation. The one full of life - imparting life with each passage of his breath over our lives! 

Afraid of no one and nothing! Why? We fear the dark, but it is time for us to recognize fully that God's light exposes what is hidden. We fear the unknown, but God's limitless supply of all things that we could ever need is ours. We fear death. but God's life is assured to those who actively choose him. Therefore, why fear? The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid? (New Life Version) Whenever we are afraid, we are filled with apprehension, sometimes unknowingly giving into that apprehension even though we know better. When we describe ourselves as fearful, we are saying we are filled with a dread of the impending danger, evil, or pain we perceive is awaiting us.

The Lord is MY light - the one who saves ME. He is the "grip" we hold onto in the midst of impending doom - MY light, the one who saves ME. In the words of an old hymn: His eye may be on the sparrow, but he watches over ME! He is a personal God - he walks WITH us. In his carefulness over us, light dispels darkness, perceptions are enlarged, and we are reanimated again! No wonder David proclaims God as Light, Space and Zest - there is nothing quite so appropriate as those three words. Try as I might, I am at a loss to add anything else to those descriptors! Just sayin!