As is often the case with military veterans who have endured actual combat, conversations eventually circle around to war stories and then on to; “Were you scared?” Those who saw actual combat often reply, “Only the foolish are not afraid.”
Fear can be friend or foe! Fear is our warning system. It notifies us of possible danger. Yet fear can also cause paralysis. Some freeze up when they should be fighting or fleeing. Fear has two types of results; beneficial or harmful.
We often hear people try to explain away some of the fears of the Lord as merely superstitions or emotions. The Bible mentions fear, or derivatives like fearful, hundreds of times. So don't make the mistake of downplaying “The Fear of God.”
Luke 12:5 tells us; “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
This “Fear of God” is reinforced as we read Acts 7:32; “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.” So if even someone like Moses was fearful how can we be expected not to be?
Yet, why or why we should not be fearful becomes even more confusing when we read some verses like 1st John 4:18, which says that “perfect love expels all fear" and Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” With love like that, what is left to fear but God's wrath to unrepentant sinners?
So how do we understand these two conflicting thoughts about fears? Why should we fear God while he expels all fears and offers everlasting kindness? In contrast, we know there were five cities in Jordan, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela where God destroyed four of them but temporarily spared the city of the Amorites because their corruption had not reached its evil fullness (Genesis 15:16). Not only did God himself destroy these cities, but the Israelites also captured cities and sometimes killed every man, woman, and child within. They proudly attested; “We left no survivors!”
There is one kind of fear God wants us to have. In Deuteronomy 5:29 the Lord exclaims: “O that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all my commandments.” Or more simply said; Do what God says to do and don't do what he told us not to do.
In any case, we can readily understand the fear of God can be totally misunderstood by believers or nonbelievers alike. Before his conversion, the Monk Martin Luther was so petrified by God, he nearly grew to hate Him. Martin Luther's early Catholic understanding of God was distorted. He could only envision God as the wrathful Judge. Only through serious study of the New Testament, did Luther come to understand God as the loving, merciful Father.
So to fear God or not is as simple as holding a few coins in the palm of your hand. Sometimes heads are up, sometimes tails, occasionally both heads and tails can be seen. In some ways, we should fear God and in other ways, we know He not only loves us but has good things in store for us.
Scripture is full of examples of how fearing God is either a positive or negative thing for our eternal souls. For example in Genesis 42:18, Joseph wins his brothers' trust when he declares he is a God-fearing man.
It was because the midwives feared God that they obeyed him instead of the authorities by sparing the Hebrew babies (Exodus 1:17). The “Pharaoh brought disaster on his nation because he did not fear God.” (Exodus 9:29-31).
Moses chose leaders to help him on the basis that they feared God and wouldn't take bribes (Exodus 18:21) and told the Hebrews that God met with them in a terrifying display of his power so that they wouldn't sin (Exodus 20:20).
Don't think these are only Old Testament ideas. Jesus states this stronger than anyone when he said, “Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
The Law of Moses, called Mosaic Law, cites the fear of God as a reason to treat the deaf, disabled, or elderly well (Leviticus 19:14-32). (Matthew 10:28). And Paul says to work toward complete holiness because we fear God (2nd Corinthians 7:1). When Christians fear and love God, we believe they are more likely to keep their word and treat everyone with honesty and kindness.
These passages clearly show fearing God is good because it saves us from caving into our own sinful natures. Moreover, Romans Chapter 3, a classic chapter on sin, says that our chief sin is that we “have no fear of God at all” (Romans 3:18). Hearing someone is God-fearing actually makes us trust that person more.
So how does the fear of God, who is perfect love, take away fear?
William Eisenhower said this in his article 'Fearing God" in Christianity Today:
Unfortunately, many of us presume that the world is the ultimate threat and that God's function is to offset it. How different this is from the biblical position that God is far scarier than the world. When we assume that the world is the ultimate threat, we give it unwarranted power. In truth, the world's threats are temporary. When we expect God to balance the stress of the world, we reduce him to the world's equal. As I walk with the Lord, I discover that God poses an ominous threat to my ego, but not to me. He rescues me from my delusions, so he may reveal the truth that sets me free. He casts me down, only to lift me up again. He sits in judgment of my sin but forgives me nevertheless. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but love from the Lord is its completion.
Jesus warned us many times to fear God, not men—and he confirmed that perspective with his very life and death. He spoke lovingly but frankly to all and didn't mince words when people needed to recognize their sin own and repent. But Christ also demonstrated love beyond all human understanding when he lived out his words, “There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. (John 15:13).”
As a Christian, should you fear God? If you guessed the answer is both yes and no, you are correct. Yes, we should fear God because He created the Universe. He can discipline us should we rebel against Him for without his approval we could not even take a breath of air.
In fact, without God, there would be no air, let alone the perfect mixture of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, a little argon, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor. This perfect mixture not only lets us live and breathe but takes care of plants, trees, fungus, and all living creatures of air, land, and seas. Yes, God is so Holy and so awe-inspiring that just knowing of His presence brings a righteous and justifiable fear. So Christians should have no fear of God but a reverence of God.
When anyone experiences the Majesty of the Lord, he or she is naturally humbled and the overwhelming glory of God produces a natural, healthy fear. Consider Isaiah 6:4-5 where Isaiah had a vision of God's majesty and glory: “At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Isaiah isn't the only one who had such an encounter. Gideon thought he would die when he saw the angel of the Lord face to face (Judges 6:22). Manoah also thought he would die after encountering God (Judges 13:22).
On the other hand, we do not need to fear God regarding judgment. As Christians, we have been washed by Jesus, thus we escape the righteous judgment of God. (Romans 8:1). We have nothing to fear on the Day of Judgment because 2,000 some-odd years ago Christ reserved our name in the Book of Life by bearing our sin before the judgment of God. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God,” (John 3:18).
Yes, we live in a fearsome world and in fearful times. The Bible tells to fear God and not to fear God. These do or don't situations are matters of circumstances and/or our individual righteousness.
Psalms 100:3 “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” We must remember that God created us and knows what is best for us. He created us for his pleasure, his purpose. He created us to praise his name. He created us to be his companions.
We should not live in fear because our Creator is all-sufficient to meet any of our needs to see us through any crises or take us to Heaven.
1st Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” Remembering who our Creator is, we should not Fear any unfavorable judgments.
Our Christian Salvation and Redemption means that Jesus has fully paid for us and all our sins. He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar group of Christian people enthusiastic to do His good works. God himself paid for us with the blood of His Son. Yes, we were bought with a princely, no, a kingly ransom. Therefore we should glorify God with body, mind, and spirit. All of which is God’s to begin with, anyway.
When Jesus died on the cross he paid the price for all sin, thus redeeming all who believe in him. Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in to the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Since He paid for us, who, I ask you, now possesses us?”
Yes, as Christians, He knows us by name. He knows all about us. Every dirty little detail that would stain our soul forever had He not shed his blood for us. But he loves us. His mercies endure forever and ever. Amen, Hallelujah!
His promises are many. Luke 12:7 “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore.”
John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Fear not— He knows you— He paid for you— you belong to Him, He claims you for his own.
Fear not—He will be with us forever. We have the promise of God that His endless presence will remove our fears.
Matthew 28:20 “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.”
He’ll be with you. Through any flood, through the fire, and yes, even through your earthly death His hands are waiting on the other side to lift you up and comfort you in his bosom.
We all have read or heard Psalms 23:4. Most combat veterans, as mentioned before, have prayed the familiar “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;”
Fear not— He will be there for you for His love is perfect. And 1 John 4:18 tells us; “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts away fear.” God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit show us their declared and demonstrated love.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” If there is anything on earth that you can be assured of, it is you can be assured of God’s love for you.
One day we will be gathered together. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us of the believers who have died before us. “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Fear not—He is coming soon! Our whole lives should be lived for the glory of God. God will take us through all things so that He is glorified. We are born blind. (1st Corinthians 10:31) “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Fear not—all is for the glory of God. The Bible is not a composite of fables or fairy tales. We Christians are not delusional. Our Faith in God and His word is based on truth! Fear not—you’re standing on the truth.
God is the greatest of all. He is the great I am, our Lord and King. He is all-knowing (Omniscient), He is all-powerful (Omnipotent), He is Omnipresent. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator, Our redeemer.
If you are not a Christian, you can not know Him. Yes, for sure, as an unbeliever you may have heard of Him, maybe even read portions of the Bible about him but you do not know him. And for such an error as egregious as that you are damned for all eternity. Damned unless you unhardened your heart, confess your sin to Jesus, and surrender your all and all to him? The time draws near.
One might argue whether or not we should fear our Lord God. Sinner's should fear him, but their very acts of continuously sinning displays ignorance of their destinies in eternity. But believers put their trust, not fear, in the promise of Christ's plan of our salvation. God is our rock. God is our refuge and He gives us strength to endure. All this and more is clearly laid out for us in many of the verses scattered about in Psalms.
Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (Selah is defined as a Hebrew word that has been found at the ending of verses in Psalms and has been interpreted as an instruction calling for a break in the singing of the Psalm or it may mean "forever.")
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 62:2,6 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 28:7-8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him…
Psalm 11:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalm 56: Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though any host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Yes, as Psalm 27 tells us, The Lord is our light—God and Jesus Christ are the shining light of all believers. The one true counselor and comforter in our difficulties, the deliverer in our distresses. David’s subjects called him the light of Israel; but he shone like our moon does, with the reflected light of God's glory, the Holy light of God. God's light shows us the state we are presently in by our nature and our deeds, and that into which we may and must be brought by grace, in order to secure our salvation. Believers do not fear what God's light brings to the forefront. As our light, He shows us the way in which we must walk and the love we must give our neighbors. His light brings comfort, yet shows us the hindrances that are in our way, the difficulties, and enemies, and oppositions, we will encounter. His light brightens our paths so we may overcome. It is only by His light that we proceed on in our Christian course. His is the light that we are promised to see forever.
Fear not the Lord God, for he is the strength of our lives, who keeps us from the devil's clutches. And for our salvation—in whom we are safe, and by whom we shall be saved--by God.
Hear Christ's call to Faith and, therefore, do not fear God. Don't fear the unknowns even if you do not understand them. Put your faith in His Words. Don't fear your current circumstances. For they will surely pass. These bodies are but wisps in the wind. Fear not your own vacillating emotions or trials of faith. Place your faith in His omnipresence. Don't fear the damning failures of your past or present life. Place your faith squarely in the knowledge God has a plan for you. Your very own, unique plan tailored to your strengths or weaknesses. Lastly, if the wicked clutches of despair envelop you, that is something to fear. The solution is to place your faith in Christ and lean on the shoulders of your Christian friends.
You have absolute free will, my friends. Choose wisely.
