If you read yesterday’s message, I would not be surprised to learn that after looking over that closing passage I pointed you to in Hebrews 10:36-31...that it may have produced a bit of ‘concern’ within you, maybe even anxiety; or dare I use the word ...‘fear’?

Believe it or not, this might not be a bad thing in the long run for you; and here’s why:

There seems to be lacking in our society today...a genuine ‘fear of God’. But then, this is not anything new if you are a student of scripture (Rom. 3:10-18). And the reason for this is pretty simple: God’s law has been ‘lost’, even as it was in previous generations, which we know happened often back in the OT (2 Kings 22-23). Hence, the reason I continue to bring this to our attention here in these daily messages of mine.

When we are not taught the law of God, we don’t truly understand what ‘sin’ is, which is ‘lawlessness’, or ‘breaking the commandments of God (1 John 3:4).

Our failure to fully grasp what ‘sin’ is... then in turn hinders us from understanding what God’s ‘judgement’ is all about. Yes, this is another misconception that many in the church have succumb to... thinking God no longer ‘punishes’ sin. I mean think about it – if we remove the ‘punishment’ part for breaking laws...why would there be any need to ‘fear’ then?

John tells us that ‘fear involves punishment’ (1 John 4:18), and Paul makes it known that the ‘law brings wrath’ (Rom. 4:15). So if we lack understanding as to why there is still judgement on sin (let alone even believe that)...then it makes sense why there would be a disconnect with grasping what the ‘fear of God’ was all about.

And do you recall what the ‘beginning of knowledge’ entails? The. Fear. Of. The. Lord. (Prov. 1:7). Oh...and why are God’s people...’destroyed’? Hosea tells us it is because of a ...’lack of knowledge’ (4:6).

I really need to take some time here to expound on this idea of ‘fear’ and ‘punishment’, because once we begin to ‘connect these dots’ in our understanding, you will be shocked to see a ‘light come on’ as the picture becomes more clear as to what scripture has been telling us for a long time; but we’ve been blinded because our hearts have been given over to man-made doctrines that brought a false security to many, which is what Jeremiah and Ezekiel spoke to way back then (Jer. 23:16-29; Ezek. 13). Jesus spoke to this as well in Mark 7:6-9,13. And what did Paul express fear(concern) about in 2 Cor. 11:3-4?

I should also point out that when it comes to experiencing, or understanding...’the fear of the Lord’, it does not come about because some preacher paints a horrifying picture of a fiery hell that God is throwing people in to left and right because they messed up in this life. Provoking an emotional feeling of response usually does not last long. The ‘fear of the Lord’ is something we need to be ‘taught’ (Ps. 34:11). Has it ever dawned on you why God went over and over with His people in Deuteronomy...the importance of understanding what His law was all about...and the consequences they would face if they disregarded His law? Chapters 4-13, and 28 might be a good reading assignment for you to remind you that the same God we claim to know, love, and serve today...is the same God we read about back then...and you should know by now...that He never changes (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:18).

So let’s take on some of the words used for ‘fear’ in the Bible. In Hebrews 12:28, we are exhorted to ‘serve God acceptably with reverence (eulabeias) and awe (deous)’. Now days, if you ask someone about the ‘fear of God’ they are usually quick to point out that means ‘reverential awe’, esteeming one with great respect and reverence. But in many other uses of the word fear, we see where it is derived from the Greek word- ‘phobo’ which is where we get the various ‘phobias’ that one might have...like ‘fear of heights’ or ‘fear of snakes’, etc. I don’t think you need me to tell you that people with such ‘phobias’ have any ‘reverential awe’ of those slithering reptiles.

Further study of that particular word reveals clearer meaning of its definition like ‘terror, alarm, fright’, along with ‘reverence and respect’. But we’ve been conditioned to dismiss the stronger meanings of that word...and many have paid the price for it. Were you aware that Jesus admonished us to ‘fear Him...who has the power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5) Those were the words of Jesus.

Now let me be clear here- as a child of God...I am not ‘afraid’ of my heavenly Father, nor do I live in terror of Him always looking over my shoulder thinking He is ‘out to get me’. But I have come to learn what it means to truly ‘fear Him’ and it boils down to believing this: God means what He says. Our problem is the growing ignorance in knowing what it is that He has actually ‘said’...which is laid out in our Bibles for us to read on our own. But...if you are depending on the guy in the pulpit to tell you ‘all you need to know’...and your personal reading/study time is limited in time and maybe reduced to reading ‘encouraging devotionals and books’ instead of the Bible...that might be a part of the larger problem for many in the church today. I cannot stress enough... God’s indictment as recorded in Hosea 4:6.

As I have said before, we do not have the luxury of separating the ‘God of the Old Testament’, who is the Creator of heaven and earth...and the ‘God of the New Testament’, who ‘became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:1,14).

Listen to the cry of God’s heart as recorded in Deut. 5:29- “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would ...fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” And this came on the heels of Moses going over the Ten Commandments prior to their entry into the land of Canaan.

Do you recall how the wisest man who ever lived (Solomon) wrapped up his writings as recorded in the Book of Ecclesiastes? “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (12:13-14). 

I hope you join me tomorrow.