Should We Fear God?

Considering the triviality of this fallen world and what little time we spend in it compared to the magnitude of eternal life in heaven, the thought of being rejected by God should strike fear in the heart of any sane individual. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 9:10)

Anyone who has searched the scriptures for any length of time is well aware of the awesome majesty of the Almighty God. He is the pinnacle of greatness whose very name causes demons to tremble.

The early Christians certainly feared God. Many of them were eye witnesses to the Lord's miracles and his resurrection. They were well acquainted with the power of God and the consequences of deliberate disobedience.

The church saw what happened to Ananias when he blatantly lied to God. "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Ananias fell dead right then at Peter's feet and when Peter confronted Sapphira, she lied also and immediately, she fell dead as well. (Acts 5:1-5)

However, those who fear this aspect of God's power are those who deliberately oppose him such as Satan and his demons. Those who are God's children have what is commonly referred to as godly or holy fear which is to be so awestruck and amazed that nothing can divert your attention from him. It's like the fear experienced on a super rollercoaster that terrifies and exhilarates in the same moment.

But this awesome fear is experienced only by those that have turned to him. The fear experienced by the unbeliever is one of absolute terror."It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31)

The Apostle Paul understood the fear of God. "Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire." (Hebrews 12:28)

Those who have no fear of God do not know him. He is the perfect Father and always does what is best for his children even when he knows it is going to hurt. We tell our children that we know what is best for them. God tells us the same thing. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is.55:8-9)

There are some who think of God in human terms which is a sad mistake. He is the greatest being in existence and though we were created in his image we are fallen creatures who would disintegrate in his presence.

The presence of God at Mount Sinai (Ex.19:18) shook the earth with such force that even Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake," as the people begged him to make it stop. (Heb. 12:21)

Nevertheless, God's loving kindness and mercy is as great as his unlimited power and he understands our frailties. Our mortal minds cannot comprehend how such a powerful being can be gentle and merciful but despite our sinful rebellion God sent his only begotten Son into our world to save us from his own wrath.

When the friends of Job spoke of wisdom he said, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." (Job 28:20) Job was actually confronted by the living God and his response was, "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6)

Isaiah also stood before God and he was absolutely beside himself. "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Is.6:5)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God himself warned us that we should fear God. "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." However, God is slow to anger and quick to forgive. Sin is the only thing that draws God's wrath and there is no condemnation for those in Christ. (Rom.8:1)

Moses said the fear of the Lord was something to be learned. (Deut.14:23) The more we seek to know God the more real he becomes and the more real he becomes to us the more awed we become of him. But we also fear disappointing him, just as a child fears disappointing a loving parent. When we fail, which is inevitable, we feel ashamed before God with a broken and contrite heart. This is holy fear which pleases God.

Lastly, for those of us in Christ, the fear of the Lord is a healthy fear. When a person becomes awe-struck at the magnificence and majesty of God, a spirit of fearful adoration develops. Then, an insatiable hunger for the word develops, followed by obedience, which leads to experience, which leads to patience, which leads to conformity to the image of Christ our Savior and Lord.