Picking up where we left off yesterday, I would like to discuss the concept of our call to fear the Lord. Do you fear God? What do you think of when you think of God? I have been challenged by Francis Chan to think of Revelation chapter 4 when I think of the Father. Let's look at that passage of scripture starting in verse 1 and continuing to verse 8:
"Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this." And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones - like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightening and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty -
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come."
Wow. Imagine being the witness to such a site. The awesomeness of the moment would take me away. Do I stand? Do I kneel? Do I lay prostrate? I don't know for sure, but I do know that I say over and over "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come."
That is a healthy fear. That is respect and love and admiration. Our fear of the Lord is tangled up in our love for him. The fear that I spoke about yesterday does not know love. In fact, 1 John 4:18 says, "Such love (the love of God) has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love". Again, wow.
If we take a close look at the Word we can see plainly the benefits of expressing or showing a healthy fear toward the Creator. Throughout the Old Testament we have examples. Here are just a few:
Psalm 2:11 "Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling."
Psalm 25:12 "Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose."
Psalm 25:14 "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he will make his covenant known to them."
Psalm 33:18 "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love..."
Some things to think about:
Where do you put your fear? In God? In the world?
How do you view God? Do you see him as he is - majestic and worthy of infinite worship?
What will you do with the lies of Satan that cause worldly fear?
Will you allow the Lord God to bless you through your call to fear, love and respect him?
Have a blessed day!
