For fear of death, people try their best to be good, thinking that one's personal goodness is what qualifies a person to be in eternal bliss after they die.
    For fear of death, people are held in bondage to all kinds of things all their lives, thinking that this is normal, just something that you've got to live with.  (Heb.2.14,15; 2Tim.1:10)
    For fear of what people think, people change their whole way of doing things, choosing not to do good and noble things that they would really like to do. This happens constantly.
    For fear of loss, people spend money on "bargains" that they did not need in the first place.
    For fear of rejection, people refuse to reach out and share with others, good things that others could genuinely use.
    For fear of failure, people hold back from a total commitment of their life to God. It is being afraid that God is not big enough nor able to do the job in your life that He said He would do.
    For fear of the devil, people hold back in timidity, ashamed to be a bold witness of Jesus Christ "to every creature".
    For fear of being sub-standard to others, people live their whole life with an inferiority complex: in-fear-i-or-ity i.e. In fear I are "ity", small to others.
    On the list could go. People bow down in worship and submission to the dictates of fear every day, everywhere, in all levels of society, in all religions, and in all realms of human existence.
    When you look at any one religion, or any one activity, and start asking the question "Why?", and keep tracing it back by asking why, you will find that it all goes back to a fear, somewhere. Just listen. You will hear it come out of a person's mouth sooner or later, "Well, I'm afraid...."
    One might say, "Well, most people's religion is self. All they are out for is to do for and satisfy self." Ask yourself, "Why is a person this way?" Is not a person self-centered because of fear of loss? If they don't look out for themself, they will miss out on something.
    One might say, "Pride is the religion of the world. Pride is what made the devil fall. Pride is an abomination to God. The proud religious leaders were the ones who rejected and killed Jesus." Yes. Why did they hold to their position of religious orthodoxy in the face of this young zealot who claimed to be the Son of God?
    The scriptures themselves tell us. In one place, when they challenged His authority, He quieted their inquiry by causing them to see and reveal the "why", their true motives: "we fear the people". They shut up in order to avoid the fatal question from Jesus of  "Why?". They were afraid to face the truth, that's why (Matt.21.23-27, esp. vs. 25,26).
    In another place, they were concerned about all the miracles Jesus was doing. They said, If we let Him alone, everybody will believe on Him, and the Romans will come and "take away both our place and nation"(Jn.11.47,48). Why did they reject and persecute Jesus?  Because of fear of loss, that's why.
    In the Garden of Eden, we can see that through twisted reasoning the woman and the man were brought to the place of being afraid of missing something good, so they partook of the forbidden fruit. They had given place to fear. How do we know? Because when God came for a visit, they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord saying "I was afraid..." (Gen.3.1-10). Rebellion, pride, and self- indulgence were all given place to through twisted religious reasoning and fear of loss.
    In reality, the one religion of the world is the religion of fear, with the fruit of death.
    What is the true way?  What is the way of life?
    Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Jn.14.6). The fruit of Jesus is the power of everlasting life for us in this life, and forever.
    Jesus came as flesh and blood like us, and in this flesh, blood, and bone body, overcame sin, satan, and the snare of death. He destroyed the power of death, that is the devil. He abolished death and brought light and immortality to light throught the gospel.  (Heb.2.14,15; 2Tim.1:10) Because of what Jesus has done, those who believe upon Him, those who commit their lives to Him, trusting Him to do what He said He would do, are those who enter into life with God both now and forever. Believing is the opposite of fear.
    Fear tells us what might be. God's Word tells us what is, what has been, and what will be. You can trust God's Word. Life and deliverance comes by trusting God's Word. This is the sure foundation.
    When we bow down to God's Word and receive what Jesus has done for us, this is honor to God. This is worshipping God. This is trusting God.
    When we bow down, believing God's Word, all the good things of God are given to us. The more we believe on and act upon His Word, the more blessing and favor is released into our lives. God gave His very Son to bless us in every way--spiritually, mentally, physically, family, financially, socially, and eternally. He is honored and overjoyed when we believe on and act upon His Word and receive His blessings. He wants our lights to shine with His goodness shown toward us, so that all may see and believe.
    Fear operates on the basis of our works and effort to be acceptable. Faith operates on the basis of the works and efforts of Jesus, who has made us acceptable to God. Then, from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, flows the love, joy, peace, power, and works of God,  in our daily lives, and in the face of death itself.
    Jesus has conquered sin, sickness, and death. He gave us the keys to life and death. Just as He overcame, we too can overcome by faith in, by being connected to, Him. Faith is the key that unlocks the door for all of God's life and blessings to come into our lives.
    This is the way of truth and life.
    Turn from fear and the realm of death, the religion of the world.
    Turn to the realm of life through faith in Jesus Christ.
    He will take your sins away. He will fill you with His Spirit and supernatural power, with supernatural operations of the Spirit to enable you to overcome all things. He will heal your body by the power of the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. He will make the Word come alive to you, so that you realize, "This is God's Word to me! I can stake my life upon it now and for eternity!"
    He said, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2Cor.6.2). Today, you can receive His life and blessings.
    Bow before Him and call upon Him, and He will give you His life and blessing. For that which you believe, you can receive. It comes by the power of His Spirit.
    "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2.21,38,39). Call upon the Lord. Give your life and your situation to Him. Be baptized in water. Be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Live and move in the power of the Holy Spirit by faith in the Word of God. Follow Jesus as your all in all.
    Today, exchange the religion of fear for the reality of God's presence and blessing, through faith in Jesus Christ.