Life without fear: a guide in Colossians

We are living in a day and age when news outlets seem like their main reason for existence is to give us reasons to be afraid. Whether it is the six o’ clock news or a story on social media that tries to make us doubt the character of someone we admire, we must not allow for any of that information to fill us full of anxiety.

From gasoline prices to the real estate market. From violence in our cities, to food prices, we need to have a true perspective of all of this. We control the level of our anxiety. Our anxiety level will be determined by what we set our mind upon. In other words, what are we thinking about?

Colossians chapter 3 has been a chapter of scripture that has had a profound impact on my life. Colossians 3:2 is one of those scriptures that gives knowledge that is invaluable. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” To set our minds means to decide what we will think about. We can decide to set our minds on gossip, strife, and negativity. However, if we decide focus on negative things, we will then become negative with our words and our actions.

We will even declare that the information we received is of a valuable source. When truly the information given is only valuable enough to make us have a negative outlook on a person or situation.

Colossians 3:1-2 makes it very clear. We must set our hearts on Christ who is seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. Verse 2, again, says to set our minds on heavenly things. For the believer, it means let us remind ourselves that we have victory in Jesus. We have no reason to fear because death was swallowed up in victory through Jesus’s work on the cross and through the power of the Lord’s resurrection. Fear and death have a partnership. Their partnership wants us to forget everything the Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us.

Jesus has provided us: Love in the name of Jesus. Power in the name of Jesus, salvation in the name of Jesus, freedom through the name of Jesus, healing in the name of Jesus. Forgiveness through the power of the name of Jesus.

Of course, I can go on with more things Jesus has provided for those who believe in him. What we need to remember is this, if Jesus is the name above all names, then anxiety, fear, and death are beneath him as well. The Lord Jesus Christ is a firm foundation. Have a great week!

Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He is married to Heidi and they have two daughters, Hannah, and Abigail. They live in Van Buren.