I have always been amazed at footage of people of all ages screaming and crying over a chart topping musical artist. It’s not that I don’t appreciate their talents I just don’t understand the emotional eruptions that seem to overtake individuals placing them into a hysterical mess; then again, I never met any of these type of artists so who knows. In all seriousness the awe that is given from emotion, I believe, is misplaced worship and reverence that is due our Lord as we seek the knowledge of His greatness.
As the world prepares their hearts to welcome fear and torment without restraint through movies and haunted houses, I want us to condition our hearts for a reevaluation of a different fear. Not the fear that paralyzes or grip with terror, but fear that leaves you awestruck with amazement saying, “Wow!” A fear that stills your heart with perfect peace and calms the chaos of confusion. I’m speaking of the fear of the Lord that doesn’t invoke the trembling trepidation of harm, but rather induces respect and reverence to the One True God. To fear God is to know Him and to truly seek His Face.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must BELIEVE that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
The reward of seeking God is the overflowing revelation that He places in our hearts concerning His Word which fortifies our inward man and assists us in resisting the tireless efforts of the enemy to devour us. Proverbs 1:7 say, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” True revealed knowledge comes when we turn from our own ways and completely, as we mentioned last month, trust the Lord. Hosea 4:1 clearly paints the need for truth, mercy and the knowledge of God as necessities for life. We must always keep a heart that is awestruck by the Presence and Person of Jesus Christ, for in doing so we will walk in completion, stability and true riches. (Proverbs 24:3-4)
Every difficult trial that we face and worry that tries to plague our minds is eliminated and brought to its rightful place when our hearts are filled with absolute focus and reverence of God’s true place and position in our lives. The fear of the Lord was perfected in the life of Jesus and as we live, move, and have our being in Him we will operate with ever increasing knowledge, which removes us from all that is perishing in this world.
To further this thought I inserted below a blog I wrote concerning the fear of the Lord from February of this year. I pray it opens your heart to the greatness of our God.
“Why we Fear God”
We fear God not because of an awaited verdict of penalty but because by faith and through grace we without opposition can walk in increasing wisdom and understanding, having full knowledge of His will and ways. Through such, trust is strengthened and rest reigns with penetrating peace in the hearts of every believer.
We fear God because we have come to value His presence, purpose and protection, which cause us to cling to Him for length of days and abundant life. This clarity of Christ has made our decision of fearing the Lord easy and through the grace that was ushered in by Christ’s arrival; our ability to choose Him knows no indecision.
The subject of the fear of the Lord for some brings thoughts of duty, but in Christ, it’s understood as the way of life free from burden. Being completely confident that as we fix our level and quality in which we honor God our only direction will be one of success. Every day as we stand in abundant awe of Him, His love fills us and silences every quivering voice of fear. His merciful hand lifts us and His pursuing goodness overtakes us.
We fear God because we know Him intimately and worship Him in spirit and truth; with hands raised and praise bubbling from our spirits we magnify our creator declaring His consuming character which produces the expression of joy in every moment.
We fear God because in it is the sharpening of the axe, the preparation of decision and the construction of all creation. The fear of the Lord walks you past temptation and through the temperatures of the fiery furnace without incident or accident; it places you in position to REIGN IN LIFE!
Why do we walk in the fear of the Lord? Why not? When honor, reverence, and awe is given through revelation of Jesus Christ concerning the One who loves beyond the natural mind’s ability, your location will never be one of dissatisfaction or limit.
This month meditate on the greatness of your God and stand in awe of His abounding ability as He reveals Himself to you. Never allow anything or anyone to belittle what only He able to do in your life. It’s not over; neither is it too late, God is willing and able! To fear God is to know Him as the Almighty God and all sufficient One.