Fear God

Fear God. What does that mean? Many people, religious leaders even, contend that we should not actually fear God. It must mean have respect. Right? Yet that has often bothered me. The Bible says fear. Anyone seeing an angel, a mere angel, fell down in fear. That sounds like real fear. More fear than I typically feel. Yet, often I find myself fearing man more than fearing God. I fear saying things a certain way, being too odd, too Christian... (Eek). So, I began praying to God that I would begin to fear him and not man. This was my prayer for a long time. It did not happen over night. Then one day, I had to contend with a believer about the law of The Lord. We're free from the law... Right? Are we? Then, I began to think about the 10 commandments and which ones I keep. I realized I kept the ones that were culturally relevant to me. Thou shalt not murder... Check. But did I keep the Sabbath? Not so much. And then I thought that maybe I keep the commandments to be a good person, but not so much because God said to. Ouch. I read my Bible, I study it even, I am learning to keep the feasts because God said to and I believe there is prophetic significance in them. I am beginning to fear God, and then I still felt I didn't fear God enough. I don't.

One day as I was preparing the Passover feast for some people someone said I should have an alternative to lamb because some people might be put off by lamb. Sure, I understand. A few years ago, I had a Passover at home with several people and some people would not eat Lamb. And then I thought about the Exodus and what might have happened to those folks who refused the Lamb. Those people who didn't want to see the blood, kill an innocent lamb. I get it, but they'd have awoken the next morning to find their first born dead and be left as slaves in Egypt.

Now, granted, we aren't going to hell for abstaining from lamb. That's not my point, but we may end up there for not fearing God, for not wanting to obey Him because it's creepy, weird, whatever. And I think there was value in the daily sacrifice. Being required to bring a sacrifice for your sins, placing your hand on that animals head for it to die for your sin, slitting its throat, skinning it, hanging it, removing its organs and innards, burning it... There is value there to seeing in a physical way the consequence, the death, brought about by my sin, your sin.

Jesus died for our sin. No animal sacrifice could do it. And somehow we think, well, he already died so it doesn't matter anymore. Will this lie really matter? Jesus already died. Will my lust really matter? Jesus already died. Close your eyes. In your mind, place your hand on Jesus' bloody brow, transfer your sin onto Him, and see Him crucified for your sin, for today's lie, last nights filthy movie, for failing to observe the Sabbath! Until His death is real, the consequences of our sin are distant and seem insignificant, and we don't fear God.


And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Matthew 10:28

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Psalm 111:10

My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.  Psalm 119:120

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecc 12:13

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12