Fear Itself!

In my morning time with the Father and his Word, I read that we must not fear what the world fears. Then it speaks of the fear of God supporting us. In the world our human based religious thought has created, there is no fear of God. Perhaps that is why fear in all other areas is rising.

God is no longer an awesome being who demands unfailing righteousness to come before him. We have washed him out until, in our minds, he is weakened by love and kindness.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in God's unfailing love and grace toward us. Grace through faith brings the worst sinner into a state of forgiveness and righteous standing before God. But God didn't just decide to let it all go because it no longer matters. It matters.

In order for both his great love and impeccable righteousness to be unified, the eternal, sinless, amazing son of God had to set aside his equality with God and stoop to the level of man. He had to endure ridicule from those imperfect, created creatures and finally a cruel and debasing death. The Lord of Creation was allowed to be killed so that Father God could accept that punishment for the sins of all mankind. It wasn't washed under the table – it was paid for and forgiven. God still demands perfection, but Jesus stands before him perfect in the place of those who put their trust in his willing sacrifice on our behalf.

God is still all-powerful. He deserves our respect and yes, our fear. Through Christ he has become our Father. His righteousness is satisfied that his love might be free and complete toward mankind, who falls completely short of any righteousness. That respect for the power and anger of God is the beginning of wisdom. Through Christ the love of God is able to meet the righteous demand of God toward us. Perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love perfects respect for his awesome character.

As a parent, we teach our children respect for the power of fire. We teach them a fearful respect accompanied by knowledge for poisonous snakes and spiders. We teach respect for the power of water and storms. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. We should also be teaching them the power and truth of God. God does not have opinions: He is truth. Set yourself against that and you have much to fear. It is true that grace is grace is grace. But consequence for ignoring truth is great and must be endured. We should fear that more than we would fear driving on the wrong side of the interstate at high speed. God will not be mocked or ignored. We should be taught to fear that. That's not a works doctrine, it is a matter of deep, mind-changing faith.

There is much positive to concentrate on in the experience of a grace based relationship to our Father God. We should 'think on these things.' He promises eternal life; He promises healing; He promises protection and so much more. But understanding the awesomeness of our God brings a respect that cannot be set aside or ignored for our own purposes. Fear Him!