"Perfect Love" - 2

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14 & 15) As we are talking about 'casting out fear', there is no better way to cast out fear than to not have the fear in the first place; this is what our relationship with our Heavenly Father should be like: as a child of His, knowing that He loves us more than we love ourselves, and that He is strong enough to keep us safe in His arms. Having this measure of faith is what 'perfect love' requires, because without these two things we really cannot put all of our trust in Him. Again, the 'perfect love' which is spoken about by John in 1 John 4:18 means the love which is mature, not lacking boldness or confidence and therefore not hampered by the insecurity or anxiety which are characteristic of immature love. Now, when it comes to our own stupidity and the things we do which are contrary to His will, we must be prepared for our Loving Father to discipline us when we have not obeyed His voice or His word. This I believe is a test for many mighty men of God; one which requires complete surrender to God's perfect love; which makes a man trust that God is strong enough to pull him from the fire, as he jumps from the frying pan into the fire; while at the same time, believing that God loves him enough to not see him hurt more than he can bare. If you do not know what I am talking about, then I should not say more; if you do know, then I have said enough. However, the real fire that we must fear is not the fire that we have created by our stupidity, but the fire that has been created for the enemies of God, and when it comes to that fire, which is the fires of hell, we who are written in the Book of Life have no need to fear. Therefore, whom shall we fear? Go look in the mirror... "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as He is, so are we in this world. (not of this world!!!) (1 John 4:17)