THE FEAR OF GOD

        We, like the children of Israel, need to learn how to fear God with a holy fear. Yes, God is a God of love, but He is also a holy God. There is a very fine line between the love of God and the fear of God. The Bible not only tells us to do both, but it commands us to do both. We either go too far one way or the other. In this day and age, we tend to emphasize the love of God over the fear of God.

          We have even forgotten what the fear of God is and we have forgotten how to fear God. First, we need to ask, “What is the fear of God?” To fear God does not mean to be afraid of Him – we do not have to run and hide like Adam and Eve did after they ate the forbidden fruit. To fear God means to reverence or show respect for Him.

           An example would be The Royal Family. Even those within the Family have to follow certain protocols when coming into the presence of other members of the Royal family. You and I, as part of the general public, would not go running into the presence of Royalty in our workout clothes. We would put on our best clothes, then wait to be ushered in. You and I would also speak in an appropriate manner.  

            We, as the people of God need to fear Him with a holy fear.  The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7). To fear God means to respect and reverence Him for who He is. God is a HOLY God. “But as He who has called you is holy, so you also be holy in all your conduct; because it is written, Be holy as I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16). As a holy God, He cannot look upon sin. Remember when Jesus was on the cross bearing the sin of the world. God, Jesus’ Father even had to turn His face away. Yet we can take the fear of God so lightly.   
 

       We need a fresh vision of God’s holiness, even as Isaiah had in chapter 6.  Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (v. 1). I wonder who, or what has to die in our lives before we have a fresh vision of God’s holiness? Our God has very high standards of holiness which He has never - and will never - compromise. “For I am the Lord, I change not…” (Malachi 3:6).  Today, even as Christians, we often live as if God’s standard of holiness no longer exists or applies to our lives. We go to church on Sunday, but during the week we live as if God doesn’t even exist. We find it hard to talk about God, but what’s even more astounding – we barely find time to spend in prayer and fellowship with Him. What rejection the Lord must feel when we act the way we do. We act worse than the children of Israel when they rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah. We even go one step further and think that we can do anything and God will forgive us. Let’s thank the Lord for His mercy and forgiveness, but we should never take it for granted. Paul said, “I do not set aside the grace of God.” (Galatians 2:21).  

            Going back to Isaiah’s vision, above the throne there stood seraphim which are angelic beings. They each have six wings – two of which are used to cover their face as they cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:2-3).  If angelic beings, who have never sinned in any way, need to cover their faces in the sight of God, how much more do we, who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God many times over, need a covering in the presence of a holy God?  Only God was able to provide such a covering for us through the Blood of Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ blood not only covers our sin, but blots it out forever. “But Christ came as a High Priest of good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12). Once we have applied the precious Blood of Jesus to our lives, we can come boldly, but reverently into God’s presence. “Therefore, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscious and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19, 22). 

            When we, the Church of Jesus Christ have a fresh vision of God’s holiness, it will change the way we live. We will have a fresh desire to honor the Lord and do what is pleasing in His sight in every area in our lives. As we grow in our fear of the Lord, He will draw us into His presence in a deeper way than ever before. The way the Lord draws us into His presence is by His lovingkindness. “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying; I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

 

            Do you know the Lord’s lovingkindness in your life?

 

Have you accepted Jesus into your life, the One whose blood cleanses us from sin so we are able to come into the Holy of Holies and spend time with God the Father in His presence? Do you want to invite Jesus into your life so you can come boldly into God the Father’s presence? If you would like to accept Jesus into your life, pray this prayer, or something similar: “Jesus, I come to You, asking You to cleanse me of my sin by Your precious Blood so I may enter into the Father’s holy presence and fellowship with Him. Amen.” If you have a Bible, start reading in the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament.