The True Enemy: Why Christians Must Not Fear What Feeds on Dread
The world is obsessed with fear. People are drawn to stories like the popular series “Welcome to Derry,” which features a powerful, ancient evil that feeds on the fear and pain of people. While these stories are fictional, they reveal a deep truth: fear is real, and it is a powerful weapon used against mankind.
For the Christian, this is not just a subject for a story. It is a reality of spiritual warfare. We must have unwavering conviction that our God has defeated the true enemy, and we are commanded to be fearless.
The Real Power of Evil
The Bible teaches that there is a genuine, powerful Ancient Evil that is stronger and more dangerous than any fictional monster. Satan and his demons are real spiritual forces that are called the prince of the power of the air. Their main goal is to control the world and confuse people.
Just like the monsters in stories, the devil uses fear as his chief tool. He wants us to be afraid of the future, afraid of economic problems, and afraid of death. If he can make us afraid, he can make us compromise our faith and stop our uncompromised mission of spreading the Gospel.
Scripture Anchor: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” (Ephesians 2:2, KJV)
Fear Is Not From God
The enemy wants to feed on our dread, but the Lord has given us everything we need to fight back. We must recognize that the feeling of constant, paralyzing fear is not a gift from God. It is a spiritual attack.
Our heroism in faith is shown by our ability to stand firm and refuse to let fear control our actions or our beliefs. We are given the Spirit of power, love, and a clear mind to defeat the paralyzing effect of dread.
Scripture Anchor: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)
Our Hope Destroys All Terror
The only way to completely destroy the power of fear is through the work of Jesus Christ. He did not just teach us to be brave; He went through death itself to break the power of the one who used death as a weapon—the devil.
Because Christ conquered the grave, we do not have to live under the threat of death or the bondage of fear. This is the Blessed Hope. Our hope is not in our own strength, but in the certain, glorious Return of our Saviour. When we look forward to His appearing, all the dark, scary things of this world, like the evils hinted at in “Welcome to Derry,” become nothing.
Scripture Anchor: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15, KJV)
The Church stands on truth, not dread. We fear God alone, and we live by the promise of His soon return.