“I ain’t afraid of you.” No one would be surprised to hear this among brawling children on a playground. However, maybe not these exact words, we see this attitude everyday among adults, not directed toward another human, but it is their mindset concerning God. Paul described such people quoting the words of King David. “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:18; Ps 36:1). The fear of the God is fundamental in our relationship with Him. The first mention of the fear of God is when the Lord commended Abraham because he trusted Him and proved he was willing to offer up Isaac. The Lord said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Gen 22:12). For several hundred years in Europe and America when murderers were executed, a statement was read detailing the criminal’s offenses and always included the statement, “having lost the fear of God”.
In my lifetime, many of us have witnessed the escalation of people who have no of fear God and have become so brazen as to mock God. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked (Gal 6:7). Numerous websites list celebrities and comedians who had no fear of God and blatantly lampooned Him. Several people have unexpectedly died a short time later. That’s serious! But any lack of fear for God is serious. Does that mean we are to be afraid of God? No, there is a subtle difference between fearing God and being afraid of Him. Fear is the attitude we should have towards God. It refers to respect, reverence, trust, and awe. Being afraid is a natural emotion in reaction to a threat to our life or a perceived danger. We express this emotion when our tranquility or physical safety is at risk. After Adam and Eve sinned and Lord God called, “Where are you?” Adam responded, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself” (Gen 3:10). They were afraid because they knew there was consequences. Now they were facing death. They were afraid because they lost their fear of the Lord.
Today, the lack of fear of God isn’t confined to just the sinful world. It has crept into many churches. Of course pastors don’t announce, “I don’t fear God anymore.” Rather, it comes through compromising messages that are man-centered and omit any reference to sin and punishment. It avoids essential truths of the Bible so no one is offended. Lack of fear is shown when Christians excuse or overlook sin that clearly violates scripture. Today, people want to be entertained when they attend church and not confronted about their sin. Paul warned this would happen. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2 Tim 4:3, 4). Dr. Michael Brown aptly stated, “What the church of America desperately needs today is a revival of the fear of God.”
The fear of God must be the cardinal principle governing every believer’s life. Solomon wrote much about the fear of God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Pro 1:7). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Pro 9:10). Yet, the fear of God is not automatic. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Psa 34:11). The church and parents are responsible to teach children the fear of the Lord. Even after someone has been taught, it remains a choice. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord (Pro 1:29). Note the previous verse stating the consequences of those who don’t choose. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me (Pro 1:28).
The fear of God carries with it multiple blessing from the Lord. Here is a short list from Proverbs: a prolonged life (10:27), strong confidence (14:26), a fountain of life (14:27), satisfaction (19:23), riches, and honor, and life (22:4), strength to depart from evil (16:6). From Psalms: no want (34:9), provisions (34:9), His goodness (31:19), fulfillment of our desires (145:19), it brings pleasure to God (147:11) and this promise, the angel of the Lord encamps around those that fear him, and he delivers them (34:7).
We live in an age of evil people who are seeking to make us afraid or terrorize us. Jesus told us, Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Mat 10:28). Those who should be afraid of God are those who have no fear of Him and reject Jesus. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31 NKJV).
Can you say, “I ain’t afraid of God, but I fear Him with all my being?”’
Sustaining Word for the Week: “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else” (Oswald Chambers).