God has declared that He will cast the cowardly into the Lake of Fire, a warning that should stir us to confront our fears, as many of us have been timid at times. A coward, defined as one who shows a shameful lack of courage or fortitude, often flees from adversity, danger, or temptation, driven by a desire for self-preservation. Examples of such cowardice include Adam and Eve hiding from God, Abraham and Isaac lying to save themselves, the ten spies fearing Canaan's inhabitants, and Peter denying Jesus Christ to avoid death. This recurring theme of self-preservation stands in contrast to the call to deny ourselves and follow Jesus Christ, who exemplified self-sacrifice and boldness. Jesus Christ teaches that whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for His sake will find it. We must not allow fear and flight to become habitual reactions to difficult situations, lest they engrave themselves on our character and set our destiny. Cowardice is tied to laziness, faithlessness, and misplaced fear, but we are exhorted to watch, stand fast in faith, be brave, and be strong. Strength comes from obedience to God's commandments, and we are reminded that the Lord our God goes with us, never leaving nor forsaking us. We must dress ourselves with the proper battle gear now, so that when we face the enemy, we are ready to stand rather than run. We need to take stock of the things we greatly fear and consider if, with God by our side, those fears are justified. If fear persists, we must take steps to face and conquer it. No trial is so great as to compare with the future awaiting us if we overcome. We are encouraged to be strong and of good courage, not to be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord our God is with us wherever we go. We never need to fear doing the right thing.