THE FEAR OF THE LORD
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
~Proverbs 1:7
~Proverbs 1:7
The question is often asked of us, "What do you mean Fear God? I thought He was a loving God?" That's a good question and the answer depends on your relationship with Jesus.
THE REALITY OF FACING HIM
The Bible clearly teaches that there is a fearful end awaiting men and women who have not received God’s free gift of salvation. Further, it teaches that every man, woman and child will one day stand before Him, on the great day of judgment, and give an account for their life. The fact of the matter is, everyone has sinned and come short of the standard God requires. Simply put, that means that everyone has need of a savior. How then will you face the Lord on that day? For those who have not received Jesus as their savior, this will not be a happy day, it will be a day filled with fear and dread on a level they have never known. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
~Hebrews 10:31 KJV
~Hebrews 10:31 KJV
Maybe you don't like the way that translation reads? How about the New International Version 'it is a dreadful thing...', or maybe you prefer the New Living Translation 'it is a terrible thing...' It doesn't matter which translation you read, because the message is the same: You, me, all mankind has need of a savior because what is broken is beyond our ability to repair on our own.
People often misunderstand the term "a Loving God". He is a loving God, that is why He sent His Son; to repair what was broken. That is love expressed on the deepest level, but ignoring righteousness and justice, overlooking sin, and offering different standards for different people, that isn't love at all. No, the standards are the same for all mankind, and the price is the same for all mankind, and the acceptable sacrifice is the same for all mankind -Jesus.
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE 'SAVED'
In his letter to the Romans, Paul explains that those who have received Jesus as their savior are "saved" from God's wrath. That is, they are safe from this day of judgment that is coming on the whole world, because they have put their faith in Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf. Again, all have sinned, but in the case of those who are "saved", the blood of Jesus is offered as acceptable payment for their sin.
'DADDY SIR'
So what then does the fear of the Lord have to do with those who are "saved"? The clearest example of this is probably seen in the Apostle John. The Bible records John leaning against Jesus at the last supper. Clearly Jesus and John had a close friendship, yet when John sees Jesus in the book of Revelation, he falls down at Jesus's feet as though dead. In fact, the Bible records that Jesus had to put a hand on him and tell him not to be afraid.
Had something happens to damage their relationship? No, but this is the first time that John sees Jesus in His glory and it didn't drive him to his knees... it drove him to his face! The fear of the Lord applies to all because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
In the context of the believer, the fear of the Lord is an ever present reminder that while we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus, we are still accountable before God for our actions. We are no longer subject to His wrath, but the blood of Jesus that paid our price is not a license to live as we please. How differently we would all live our lives if at the end of each day, we knew we would give an account to our Father for our actions during the day. Think of a young son who sits down to dinner with his father and they begin to discuss the events of the day. Direction would come... correction would come... and encouragement would come... and the child would live differently with these things in mind.
Had something happens to damage their relationship? No, but this is the first time that John sees Jesus in His glory and it didn't drive him to his knees... it drove him to his face! The fear of the Lord applies to all because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
In the context of the believer, the fear of the Lord is an ever present reminder that while we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus, we are still accountable before God for our actions. We are no longer subject to His wrath, but the blood of Jesus that paid our price is not a license to live as we please. How differently we would all live our lives if at the end of each day, we knew we would give an account to our Father for our actions during the day. Think of a young son who sits down to dinner with his father and they begin to discuss the events of the day. Direction would come... correction would come... and encouragement would come... and the child would live differently with these things in mind.