Whom Shall I Fear?

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." John 15:18-21

I have really been thinking of this verse this week as I have followed the Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani news. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, Yousef Nadarkhani is a Muslim Christian pastor in Iran. That is HIGHLY looked down on around those parts because Islam is the main "religion". They drug him through a court-type system and gave him three chances to recant and denounce Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He didn't. So now he and possibly his family (wife and small children) are facing execution!

Had I have heard of this a year ago, I would be more furious than confident. I wouldn't have known this bible verse to think of immediately.

But, The Lord works so wonderfully through his followers. Just this week, I had my mind blown and perspective changed- Praise be to GOD. I recently switched churches (I really felt the Spirit leading to this church) and I have received personal spiritual blessing after spiritual blessing. One of many is that I can now attend a daytime Beth Moore bible study on the book of Daniel. Just This Week we went over the events that took place with Meshach, Radshach, and Abednego. "King Nezzar" (Veggietales shortened name) wanted the world to worship HIM and those who didn't were going to immediately be thrown into the BLAZING furnace. When his music played and everyone bowed down, Meshach, Radshach, and Abednego were still standing- refusing to denounce God and worship an idol! 
Here is what I gathered from Beth Moore's study of these events: Before the were thrown into the furnace, there were 3 possible forms of deliverance.
1. They could be delivered from it and not have to face it at all (God blows the fire out, or changes someone's heart..ect, ect.)
2. They could be delivered through it (Which is what happened) and they survive and their faith be refined.
3. They could be delivered by it and die and go to heaven.

This rocked my mind. I dropped so much worldly fear after this bible study meeting because, all along, here I am, scared of getting cancer, scared of flying on an airplane, scared of the WORLD. Not that now I want to go and jump in front of a bus or anything like that, but of all of those scenarios, WHOM SHALL I FEAR??

A day or two after this spiritual enlightenment, I heard the news of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani and thought of this. I know that his heart is humbled and ready to see Jesus' sweet face (if scenario 3 is the course the Lord wants to take him on). Either way, God is so good.