What is the most prominent dread in the world today?

What will make the strongest man alive squirm, make people faint, make the smallest child run in stress to the protection of mom or dad.

What will take the very life out of you and scare you to the point of … should I say it? To the point of death?

That, my friends in Christ, is fear.

And it is written on our faces, just as it was written on the faces of even the greatest of our biblical figures. Cain against the reality of God’s knowledge of the murder he had just committed, Moses up against the Pharaoh, Samson and Delilah, David and Nathan, Solomon and his indiscretion.

How about Isaac and Ishmael? That conflict started thousands of years ago and continues to this day as the world remains a source for the very hell of war and hate to this date.

Mark 6:23 states, “And she (Herodias’s daughter) went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

For John the Baptist, his day is up. He knew it was coming, but he didn’t know when, but it has finally come and there are many who fear this day. John himself, for he had much left to do and now no time to do it.

And how about Herodias’s daughter … bold … brazen … out to get her own way no matter what. Did she fear anything? Doesn’t appear so, does it?

And it is because she hated to hear the truth about her mother’s and stepfather’s sin and the fact that John the Baptist wouldn’t stop telling it.

What she failed to realize is that death doesn’t stop the truth from being told and there were others just like John who were willing to risk their lives to call sin what it is – sin! And so, they did. Death where there is faith can silence no one.

One man for certain was in fear this day. Herod. He was no a stupid man. He saw what he was up against, and he was up against God, but rather than bow down to the Lord and send his scandalous wife and daughter in law to the fate of death, he took the easy way out.

Send John where I deserve to go. Send John where she deserves to go, send John out of here so that these nightmares from hell will stop. Send anyone, just don’t send me. Ever feel that way?

The thing people fear most in this world is death. And the interesting part of fearing death is, as a Christian, we don’t need to.

Herod needed to, the thief on the cross needed to, the ones to this day who refuse to accept the fact that they are sinners and that Jesus Christ died a horrible death for us need to.

How about you, yes you, in Lake County. Are you in fear of the death?

You do not need to be. Jesus has paid the price and we are saved. Come and hear how.

Fear is our topic this week at First Lutheran Church in Lucerne and I invite everyone to join us for what will be a contemporary music, Holy Communion service.

This week is also our monthly “food cupboard” and all are welcome to join us for Bible study at 9:30 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., lunch after service and the food cupboard from 1 to 2 p.m.

Bring your family and friends! All are welcome so come as you are.

See you Sunday!

Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572. Email Pastor Chris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..