Meeting Jesus: From Fear to Fulfillment
Many believers wrestle with the fear of meeting Jesus—not because they don’t believe He’s real, but because they’re unsure of what He will do when they stand before Him. Will He punish me for the wrongs I’ve done? Will He look at everything I’ve built and burn it to ashes? Will He declare all my knowledge useless and force me to start over? What if I’ve followed a version of Christianity that He doesn’t recognize?
These fears feel intense because they deal with identity, security, and eternity. But underneath each one is a myth—a distorted view of Jesus. The good news is that the Bible doesn’t leave us in fear. It corrects myths with truth and reveals that Jesus isn’t out to destroy us but to redeem, refine, and restore.
1. Fear of Punishment: “What if He punishes me for my sins?”
This is one of the most common fears—often rooted in guilt or past religious trauma. But the Bible is absolutely clear: If you are in Christ, you will never be punished for your sins. Why? Because Jesus has already taken the full punishment in your place.
📖 “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him…” (Isaiah 53:5)
📖 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
If Jesus paid your debt, God is not going to ask you to pay again. He is not waiting to humiliate or crush you—He’s inviting you into rest.
💡 Myth: “Jesus is coming with a list of my wrongs.”
Truth: Jesus already took the list and nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).
2. Fear of Loss: “Will He destroy everything I’ve built?”
You may worry that if Jesus really takes over your life, He’ll dismantle your relationships, achievements, career, or influence. In a way, that’s partially true—but not in the way fear tells you.
Jesus does tear down what was built on sand (Matthew 7:26). But not to shame you. He rebuilds on something eternal.
📖 “The fire will test what sort of work each one has done… If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; yet he will be saved.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
He removes only what is false, hollow, or dangerous. You might grieve what is lost, but what remains will be pure, eternal, and deeply rooted in Him.
🔥 Analogy: Like a surgeon removing a tumor—not to harm, but to heal. Jesus doesn’t destroy to ruin you; He rebuilds to restore you.
3. Fear of Being Wrong: “Will He undo everything I know?”
Many of us find identity in what we believe. The idea that Jesus might say, “You were wrong” can feel threatening—especially if you’ve spent years in ministry or theological study. But Jesus corrects not to embarrass but to enlighten.
📖 “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully…” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
He doesn’t throw away all your knowledge. He refines it. He will expose falsehoods, yes—but not to strip you of value. Rather, to lead you into deeper truth.
💡 Myth: “If I’m wrong, I’m worthless.”
Truth: Jesus corrects those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). He refines truth in you so that you can grow, not start from zero.
4. Won’t Rebuilding Take Forever?
You may wonder: if Jesus does rebuild my life, won’t it take a long time? Yes, sometimes rebuilding takes time—but it doesn’t take Jesus long to take you in.
📖 “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
Rebuilding isn’t the same as being rejected. The moment you yield to Him, He begins the work. The process may be lifelong, but you’re never “on pause” or “useless” while He works. He uses you even while He rebuilds you.
⚒️ Analogy: You are a house under renovation—still a home, still His, just being made more beautiful day by day.
5. How Do I Know I’ve Truly Yielded to Jesus?
Yielding doesn’t mean you’re perfect or fearless—it means you’ve stopped fighting Jesus for control. It’s a posture, not a one-time event.
Here’s how you can tell:
- You begin to say: “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42)
- You care more about obedience than success (John 14:15)
- You seek His presence, not just His blessings (Psalm 73:25-26)
- You stop clinging to outcomes, and start trusting His ways—even when it hurts
💡 Yielding isn’t proven by feelings but by fruit: obedience, humility, dependence, and worship.
You might still fail or struggle, but if your heart is surrendered, Jesus is already working deeply in you.
6. Why Want the Source, Not Just the Resource?
This may be the most important correction: Jesus is not a means to an end. He is the end.
When you pursue Jesus just for peace, blessings, ministry success, or answers, you treat Him like a vending machine. But when you want Him—just Him—you begin to live in fullness.
📖 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.” (Psalm 73:25)
📖 “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life…” (John 6:27)
Everything He gives—love, provision, wisdom—is good. But He Himself is the greatest gift.
🌊 Analogy: If you’re thirsty, you can carry bottles around—or you can sit beside the spring itself. Jesus is the Living Water (John 4:14). When you have Him, you never run dry.
Conclusion: From Fear to Freedom
Jesus is not coming to punish you, shame you, or leave you empty. He’s coming to free you from all the things that never satisfied you in the first place.
He removes what’s false to make room for what’s real. He rebuilds what’s broken into something eternal. He gently exposes lies so you can walk in truth.
He is not just the Giver. He is the Gift.
📖 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
So don’t fear meeting Jesus. Fear missing Him.
He’s not waiting to destroy you—He’s waiting to dwell with you.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him…” (Revelation 3:20)
He is your peace.
He is your truth.
He is your source.
Run to Him—not for what He gives, but for who He is. And when you do, you’ll find that He’s been running toward you all along.
