By Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
It is my humble opinion that many Christians today have forgotten how important it is to have a good healthy fear of God. I also believe that it is this lack of fear that causes much of the problems we see today in the Lords church. Preachers and teachers have been so focused on the love of God that they have failed miserably at teaching fear is necessary also in guiding folk not only to Christ but for the Christian to stay faithful.
Just as we as parents want our children to fear certain thing such as touching hot stoves or the perils of doing drugs we seek to instill in them a fear of those things for their own good, so God wants us to fear the consequences of our actions. Deu 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Deu 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
Fear is not a bad thing at all. It causes one to step back and rethink their actions. Knowing there is an eternal punishment waiting for those who will not follow Gods commands. The Psalmist wrote Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psa_33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Psa_33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
To have a good healthy fear of the Lord makes it possible for us to be pleasing to God and keeps us from doing that which we know to be wrong. Psa_111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Only a foolish man does not see that fear is necessary. Pro_1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Even our Lord stated that we need to fear God….. Mat_10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke recorded these words of Mary and we would all do well to apply them…… Luk 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luk 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luk 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Luk 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luk 1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Luke also recorded the words of the Lord and even more emphasis was put on how important fear of Gos is…. Luk 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Luk 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Luk 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Finally I will end this with scripture we should all know well and if you do not then I advise to to take heed. Php_2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Folks give some serious thought to this please I know we love to hear of the love and mercy of the Lord. Yet, if we fail to have the necessary fear of our God we will become as those who have abandoned the truth and forsaken the church for man made doctrine. I implore you fear God and keep his commands.
