"Stop the world; I want to get off!" The sentiment is understandable when one considers the nightmarish course of this "present evil world". Since Adam left Eden for the valley of the shadow, man has had to cope with trouble in many forms. Truly he has been "born to trouble as the sparks fly upward". But by the outworking of evil, man's need of God and his righteousness is made very clear. Against the peace and balance of Eden, the fretful perversity of disobedience under the Usurper is made manifest as unprofitable, evil and vain. Truly God knew the end from the beginning; his love and wisdom is behind it all. He did not place Adam in a perfect world but only in a perfect garden, and when Adam left the garden God said "Cursed is the ground for thy sake". At this end of the Age we see wickedness coming to the full; we also see people turning to the Gospel, seeking to "wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb", and looking for the coming of Christ. God be praised!

Those who have believed in God through the Word, and are "looking unto Jesus", must still cope with fears in the flesh. There is no truce. On the contrary, by acknowledging the Prince of Peace the special attention of the Prince of Darkness is invoked. He is the opposer of the brethren of Christ. As sons of God, citizens of the heavenly kingdom, we are in enemy territory. Comfortingly, a very much beloved Brother reminds us that "our minds may be troubled. . . our hearts, never". "The Father Himself loveth you"! We are provided for, as God provided for the Israelites, of which provision not the least marvellous was the "just sufficient" provision of manna, given day by day, whatever their position or condition, for forty years in the desert. Our inner man is renewed day by day just as surely.

When the first exciting contact with their Messiah had been made and the disciples were all gathered, there began for them a period of very intensive training. They were with the Lord, and saw wonderful demonstrations of his heavenly power. They lived, and sang, and prayed with him, and doubtless they thought the solution of all things was near to come. There were times when the draught blew in, the cold wind of opposing forces, as when Jesus visited his home country and could do "few miracles there, because of their unbelief. The time, after the disciples had been empowered to heal, that they failed to cast out the deaf and dumb demon, must have been a shaking experience for them, full of doubts and arguments (Mark 9.14-15).     There were those fearful journeys across the Sea of Galilee, when the breakers loomed larger than the knowledge of the keeping power of God, even though his Son was with them. There were the much deeper feelings of uneasiness that came to them before their Lord left them for the last time. That last journey to Jerusalem was full of foreboding. With Jesus they could do all things, but where would they be if He left them? To see him so sorrowful was a dreadful experience. No wonder "they followed, afraid" (Mark 10. 32).

By the disciples' experiences we may see the magnitude of God's tremendous work in creating his sons from mortal men. Twelve different men, an apprenticeship with the Master of only three years; how intensive that period! They got much more than they could digest or retain. Afterwards they needed the Holy Spirit of truth to bring all things to their remembrance. We can imagine the first joyful realisation "We have found the Messiah!" and then, how they must have striven to bring their own souls into alignment with him. We have the story of Peter to illustrate the watch care of our Lord over them in this personal aspect. He was a good shepherd. Apart from his wonderful public ministry, He maintained a special attitude of mind towards the Father, a pattern of prayer, thanksgiving and praise, a faith supreme and confident. So He weaned them away from superficial traditional worship, from all worldly ways of thought, to KNOW God as Father, speaking to him, trusting him as such, in sincerity and truth. "The Father himself loveth you" He said, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart—and you will find your souls refreshed". This is a principle in the lives of all God's people. "Prayer brings victory." "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul." "In everything, by prayer and supplication make your requests known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus." "What time I am afraid, I will trust in God." "Always to pray—and not to faint."

Fear is a part of the present world. In the Kingdom, with life and health and peace assured for men of goodwill, the only fear will be that of not gaining God's full approval. We are working towards being approved of God now, as his sons, his first fruits in Jesus, to be all with him. But the element of mortal fear is with us, as one of the weaknesses of our "earthen vessels", and one of the weapons of Satan. If faith and the heavenly armour in themselves were sufficient for our safety, then there would be no need to "watch and fight and pray". We must exercise and build up our "most holy faith", keep our heavenly armour on, and fight "not as beating the air". Many times in the Word fear is recognised as part of the fight. Patriarchs, prophets, apostles, angels and our Lord himself found it necessary to give reassurance. Paul admits to "fears in my own mind" and as his never untroubled life unwound, it is plain that with each painful or tormenting experience came a greater measure of confidence, a deeper involvement with the Lord, an increasing sense of joy in victory—a rest in the outcome. God's purpose cannot fail, nor his watchcare and support for those upon whom it rests. This is made manifest for us in the Way as we go on, trusting more in his strength. We are on the winning side, against evil and for our God of Love; we each have a "comforter" with us, a personal messenger of the Holy Spirit, and God has not given us a cowardly spirit again to fear, but in truth, as will be proved—one of power, and love, and of a sound mind. Each trial, bringing firmer joy and confidence in victory through Christ, must needs increase our gratitude and love for God. ". . . and the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and faith unfeigned." Indeed, Paul manifests the truth of this by his last letter to Timothy, writing "/ have maintained the good contest, I have finished the race, I have guarded the faith. It remains that there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me in that day . . . and to all. . . who have loved his appearing". May we all go on, ever growing in grace and knowledge, and in the power of using that life-force that is within us, which is greater than "that which is in the 4 world". So shall we cast out fear, again and again and again, and find ourselves ever strong in him who strengthens us, coming to the end of the race with the same tested-and-proved confidence of Paul. "Now to him who is able to guard you from falling, and to place you blameless in the presence of his glory with great joy, to God alone our Saviour through Christ Jesus our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority, both now and throughout the ages. Amen."