What were some of the thoughts that you had during the year 2000 scare when January 1st rolled around? Some were very concerned, especially computer tech guys whose concerns were probably heightened because of their understanding of the potential impact that rolling over to the year 2000 might have on computers, and various other computer-controlled systems at the time. In the end, at least within my own world, nothing happened, and I am not aware of any significant things that happened because of our calendar turning over to the year 2000. In 2001 I was driving to work after taking my kids to school when the 9/11 attack occurred. Listening to the radio while driving that morning I was totally surprised, confused and shocked. Instead of going to work I rushed home and turned on the television to see what was going on. I sat their stunned as most of us were at the time, and for quite some time.
Later I remember talking to my mother about 9/11 and the attack on Pearl Harbor, since there were comparisons being made on the number of deaths in each event. She shared with me how they heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was a couple of days afterward since they lived in a rural farming community. The attack happened in 1941 and she would have been 19 years old at the time. I asked her to compare the two events. Right away she said that they received the information about a day afterward. They of course were all shocked, but that it was very different than 9/11. She said the flow of information, and the visuals from TV were especially overwhelming, and made it much more frightening. They had no electricity in their home in those days, so information was by word of mouth and in written form. She said that they were trying to piece things together as information slowly reached them, and that they were able to digest the information in a much slower manner. This she said was the difference.
What we have today is immediate information through the electronic highway. It’s a tsunami of information right at our finger tips in an instant. To the modern person who is in the know it may or may not be overwhelming, however information over load can be unhealthy. It may be better to slow down the flow of information and spend time praying as well as examining Scripture, even praying through Scripture to bring clarity and reduce overload. For some this may not be a problem, they want to know everything right away. Immediate breaking news has a different effect on all of us. It is important to think about how we process and how much we process information through the electronic highway.
The corona virus has created a new dimension in the world we live in. Our hearts may become overwhelmed by worry, fear, or heightened concern during these very different times. The first passage I thought of when the virus became serious news was what Paul wrote to Timothy. 2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. I can understand how the world without Christ would be anxious, all they have is the horizontal, that is the world they live in and it definitely shows during this time. But we have the advantage; our faith causes us to see things vertically before it lowers its eyes down to the horizontal once again. Paul is reminding us that God gave us something other than fear; He has given us power, love and self-control. If we are struggling with anxiety and fear, we can be sure that this is not something that God desires us to experience without His help. Our anxiety could be too much focus on events, ourselves, or circumstances. It could be that we focus on our own human resources rather than on the Lord who is fully sufficient in all things in life 2 Peter 1:3,4
Originally written to young Timothy, Paul may have been addressing some fear and anxiety that he was personally dealing with at the time. It could be that Paul is addressing something else; perhaps that Timothy’s life should not be characterized by fear, but by power, by love, and by self-control. In other words it may be more of an encouraging instruction for Timothy rather that addressing how he was naturally inclined. People differ on how they see this verse but one thing is for sure, this verse encourages us to tap into power, love, and self-control that can only come from God.
The chapter addresses reluctance, not being “ashamed”, “sharing in suffering”, Paul being a prisoner and men completely abandoning him. Timothy is hearing about shame, suffering, imprisonment and then abandonment, and Paul is modeling before Timothy power, love and self-control. He is encouraging and reminding Timothy of his faith, of its foundation, of his prayers for him, of diligence to “fan into flame the gift of God” given him, to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” He encourages him to use every opportunity to use these gifts given him. He is encouraging him to share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. This power is by the Spirit through the gospel, this love is the very kernel and expression of the gospel. The soundness of mind is in gospel purpose, as it states in verse 9, “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. The gospel give hope, it has purpose and power and influence over one’s life. Paul is modeling before Timothy how things should look like in his life during great danger, peril, and unusual hardship. He is addressing real time exposure to real time extreme threats in his life and in Timothy’s as well. He is directing Timothy’s eyes away from the horizontal and firmly placing them toward the vertical, where Christ rules over the affairs of our lives, where our affections are to be placed. Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
When I think about Paul’s letter to Timothy, I think about what power, love and self-control looks like in Scripture. When I define what these three spiritual dynamics, power, love, and self-control looks like in Scripture, contrasted against fear, things become much clearer to me. These three spiritual dynamics confront my heart. I then ask, how am I doing in these areas? Is my life characterized by fear and not by power, love, and self-control, and in what ways? Does my life demonstrate fear during this time that can foster a host of issues with anxiety, control, and lack of trust in God? How has power, love and self-control manifested itself in me during this time? When I see the world around me in panic mode, demonstrating a lack of self-control, not loving their neighbor but rather hording, what do I think? When the world around us is demonstrating civil unrest and violence in grocery stores, what kind of power are they seeking, what does this tell me? Am I panicking and trying to wrestle control of things in my life?
We could say that this is what we should expect when the gospel is absent in people’s lives, panic ensues, it then gives birth to control, self-reliance and self-preservation. Personal security, protection, and preservation grips the world around us and if we are not careful it will do the same to those who know Christ. We will become less dependent upon our God who brings about security, protection, and preservation, and become more dependent on our own means. What is better than “God (who) gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control, during these times? God gives, we receive, we are not called to take control of our own lives, to grab everything we can get, to seize control of the last loaf of bread before anyone else gets it. We are called upon to ask and the Father will lovingly and faithfully give. Our prayer is “give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11, and our trust is in His constant care for our every need.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The gospel is the only power that demonstrates the ultimate love of God, which brings all who believe under its power and control. When we see ourselves in the same context as the unbelieving world around us with its self-empowerment, lack of love, lack of self-control, are we really living out the gospel that is within us? The power of the gospel, the love of the gospel, the self-control given us through the gospel, are these realities in our lives?
What lens are you seeing the current events through? Are you in information overload and becoming anxious? It may be time for us to slow down and take less in from the news cycle, and more in from the perspective of Scripture coupled with heavy doses of prayer. Slow down and be aware of what our civil government is warning us and preparing for us to do. We do not have to agree with everything, but we do need to stay informed. Slow down and reproduce the attributes of the gospel in meaningful and measurable ways in your own life during this time. Remember its effect upon you. Take one step at a time and ask, what does fear look like in my life now? What does the contrast to fear look like in my life now, power, love and self-control. Expand your understanding of this verse in its context, apply it, and then grow and change in your understanding of 2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.