By solving this mystery you will have discovered perfection.

THE MYSTERY

Emotion is superior to logic. “How?” You might ask. The answer is generated by an emotion. The origin of this emotion is God, and without it is the experience of judgement. “Why?” You might ask. Because the opposite emotion is to hate the originator of life, and thereby be converted to sin where fear resides.

Do you fear?

^{Comment the Scripture that solves this mystery? [book chapter : verse/s].}

SCRIPTURE CLUES

• Psalm 27:3 – ³ Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. [ESV]
• Psalm 91:4-6 – ⁴ He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. ⁵ You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. [ESV]
• Isaiah 12:2 – ² “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” [ESV]
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – ⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. [ESV]

JOURNAL

Reader, you’ll notice that there is a theme “fearlessness” of the righteous. How does one consider him or herself righteous, I wonder? As I ponder that, the question from the mystery is also beckoning, “Do you fear?” I’m realizing the sheer magnitude of the question. I feel this will require an invested response, not so much by means of time but improvisation, because the scripture that solves this mystery calls me to the stand for trial.

As I reflect on my “life-map”… I’d answer that I do fear, sadly. That, of course, has not been my aim, to fear, but standing trial in perspective of the scripture gives a unique perspective from the judge’s point of view. I think my initial reaction to the question, Do I fear? I Immediately conjure Jesus for my answer, which consequently strips me from taking responsibility, I deflect with the idea that Jesus already saved me from having to take responsibility. I don’t think I mean to do that, but because I’ve been institutionalized into Christianity it makes sense why that would be my reaction. More questions manifest.

After sifting— “sifting”. That word stopped me in my tracks as I processed how to proceed from where I left off, and then I found myself looking into Luke 22:31 where Jesus tells Peter that Satan demanded to have him, that he might sift as wheat (paraphrased). So by taking responsibility is the experience of sifting (or being sifted), just as Peter realized as soon as that rooster crowed in v.61, and then he wept bitterly. I feel like that weeping bitterly is an experience of understanding the most difficult question, the question of qualification, the reality of finding out your qualifications. It’s humbling to say the least, and can strip away your faith if you allow it.

The same question that Jesus asked Peter after all of that is the same question of today: “[insert name], do you love me?” (x3). It is in the answer of that question that a believer will come to realize whether they have discovered perfection. The Apostle Peter discovered perfection and was crucified just as our Lord was, but upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ the Lord Jesus.

Do you fear?

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