Be Not Afraid, Open Wide the Doors for Christ

by Paul Batura | October 23, 2024 | Culture

It was 46 years ago yesterday when Karol Wojtyla, a.k.a. the newly elected Pope John Paul II, delivered his inaugural homily to the throngs gathered in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square.

Expressing his love for Jesus Christ, the 58-year-old pontiff then implored:

Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept His power … Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To His saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man.” He alone knows it.

Of course, the pope was quoting Jesus, who said to Peter and to all of us: “Take courage … Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). He was also quoting the Lord in the Book of Joshua: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Matthew 1:9).

Fear is one of life’s most debilitating emotions. It can paralyze even the once bold and ambitious, reducing them to a listless and ineffective vessel. It creates apathy, squanders potential and platform and neutralizes the stricken caught in its vicious grip.

It’s easy to understand why so many people are fearful today. A broken and sinful world is a frail and fragile place. There are threats from every direction. It was the apostle John who referenced “the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), an umbrella term that encompasses so many of society’s ills: interpersonal conflict, heresy, sexual confusion, and all kinds of lies that are disguised as truths.

We might fear the government’s heavy hand, an uneven economy, our finances – and the outcome of an election.

But Jesus’ words remain timeless and true: Take courage. Don’t be afraid.

As Christians, we can live boldly and confidently, knowing that God’s side, while culturally uncomfortable, is definitely unassailable.

Our boldness isn’t borne of ego, but of hope (2 Cor. 3:12). We can unashamedly and courageously speak up and speak out. We can all witness to hostile audiences. After all, it was the apostle Paul who reminded us, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News” (Romans 10:15).

Dr. James Boice was the beloved senior pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia between 1968 and 2000. Urging his congregation to live with Christ’s confidence, he stated:

Whether you can see it or not – and often we cannot – everything is being used of God for your good as well as the good of others…This knowledge is by faith. It is not always by sight. But it is nevertheless certain, because it is based on the character of God, who reveals Himself to us as both sovereign and benevolent…We are not to be anxious about the unknown future or to fret about it. We are to live in a moment-by-moment dependence upon God.

Dr. Boice put that dependence on display on May 7, 2000 when he preached for the last time. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer on Good Friday of that year. Here were his final words:

Should you pray for a miracle? Well, you’re free to do that, of course. My general impression is that the God who is able to perform miracles—and certainly He can—is also able to keep you from getting the problem in the first place…Above all, I would say pray for the glory of God. If you think of God glorifying Himself in history and you say, `Where in all of history has God most glorified Himself?’ the answer is that He did it at the cross of Jesus Christ, and it wasn’t by delivering Jesus from the cross, though He could have… And yet that’s where God is most glorified.

We can live without fear because we can live knowing that nothing happens outside of God’s purview. Nothing happens without His permission.

Come what may in two weeks, two months, or twenty years: “Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ.”

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