If you were born on this earth, as I suppose, you probably know what fear is! You may not be able to put it into words and craft a beautiful definition, but you know what it feels like. Fear is an old enemy of humanity. It was not always there. It came with the entrance of sin.
Adam experienced fear as soon as seen came into the world. Adam said to God, “I was afraid because I was naked.” This statement gives us a powerful insight into the origin of fear. You might be tempted to think that the nakedness he referred to was his bare physical body without any clothing. It was not! When he said he was naked, he was actually covered with fig leaves. He was physically naked before the fall! The nakedness that brought the fear was not a physical nakedness.
The clothing that Adam had before the fall was the glory of God around him, which is the Presence of God. This clothing was a glory shield that assured his security and protection. He was not conscious of the hostility of his environment when he was clothed with the glory. As soon as the glory left, he became conscious that something might hurt him from the environment. Fear had stepped in to begin its long acquaintance with mankind.
God’s commandment to you, His child, is “Do not be afraid.” The glory shield is back! There is no reason to be afraid because God is with you everywhere you go.
What did Adam do as a result of his fear in the scripture above? Can you see why fear comes with cowardice?
When fear hits you today, take a breath, remember the Word that God is with you, and declare in faith that “God has not given to me a spirit of fear!”