fear_of_the

The Fear of the Lord

It's crazy to be starting with spiritual milk again, yet here we are. Who decided that FEAR didn't actually mean fear? Why lessen its meaning? Let's actually turn to the Word of God and read something quite interesting, the Words are coming out of our Saviours mouth, which means they certainly deserve our utmost attention.

Matthew 10:28 (New International Version)

28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. New International Version (NIV)

Matthew 10:28 (King James Version)

28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. King James Version (KJV) Public Domain

Notice the two words used? Do not be afraid or fear. I'm sure you are aware of those who say we should not be afraid of God because He doesn't want us to be afraid of Him. Besides, ours is a God of love, what have we to fear from a God who loves us?

Erm... hello...

'Be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Hell? Isn’t that an eternity place? Oh! Yeah! That's a pretty good reason to use the terms fear and afraid if ever I heard one. Now imagine this... you're standing in the store minding your own business, when a robber barges in and taking hold of you, puts a gun against your head... Are you afraid of the man with gun? I mean truly afraid in every meaning of afraid, are you in fear of your very life? Well I think we need the nice and fluffy Message Bible here…

Matthew 10:28 (The Message)

28"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life —body and soul— in his hands.”

The Message (MSG)

Yeah, that's more like it, don't be intimidated by bullies, after all a bully with a gun cannot harm your core being… And just what is my core being? That’s for another time I guess... So, back to our imagination, how are you feeling? Are you getting what is truly meant in this passage about fear/afraid? Do you truly understand the full extent of what Jesus is saying here? For those of you struggling with your fluffy lurve god, I'll spell it out for you... Whatever you think is the worst thing imaginable that could happen to you, it is nothing compared to what Almighty God can do. Because, whatever any human being could inflict upon you will only affect the flesh in the here and now, whereas what God can do is done to body and soul both in and for all eternity. I have to admit I’m struggling with being reverential here. I’m totally getting the fear aspect though!

So for those who like to dumb down our God and say “fear God simply means to reverence and not actually be afraid, because God is love and doesn't want us to fear Him” clearly have no relationship with the Living God. Think about it for a moment, God says the fear of Him is the beginning of wisdom. Can God lie? If not God, then who? You got it!

The Point

Do you see how you change such a little, insignificant issue, how far wrong you end up? What do you think the world's view of God is today, right now? New age hippie? Antique? Relic? When you actually take some time to consider Him and who He is, with all His Glory and Holiness, you can get a rough idea of how angry He is right now... and... This is just the beginning!

Let’s go and peek into the future and witness Satan in court, claiming everything all humanity has a right to claim, even though we know that he will NOT receive it. We are certain beyond any reasonable doubt God created the lake of fire and sulphur for Satan and his minions. Yet, we still need to know what separates us from Satan. What is it about him that Christ Jesus will undoubtedly say of him, “I never knew you” surely they both knew each other before the foundations of this earth were laid!

Are you ready for court?

home|about us