Last week we considered things we do not have to fear. We do not have to fear man because, while he can kill the body, he cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). We do not have to fear condemnation from God since our friendship with God has been restored in Christ (Ephesians 1:7). Since the sting of death is sin (1 Corinthians 15:56), and our sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:7), death is another thing we do not have to fear. Furthermore, we do not have to fear the day of judgment because we have been justified by faith (Romans 5:1) and acquitted in heaven’s court (1 John 4:17-18). Finally, we do not have to fear failing because, as long as we are doing our best to serve God, we really cannot fail.

This week I want us to think in the opposite direction. While there are several things we should not fear, there are some things that we ought to fear, beginning with God. We should all be filled with godly fear.

This world is in a moral mess because too many people have no fear of God in their hearts. To fear God does not mean that we shake and quake every time we think of Him. It has to do with having respect and reverence for Him, and it is something that He is owed by all men.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)
¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Fearing God and obeying God go hand in hand. The person who refuses to obey God does not fear Him. The world is filled with people like this, and always has been. The biblical Pharaoh is a great example of one who had no reverence in his heart for God. Do you remember his response when God, through Moses and Aaron, told him to let His people go? Here it is:

Exodus 5:2 (KJV)
² And Pharaoh said, who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

This was a response of both ignorance and arrogance, and one that Pharaoh would eventually come to regret. Yet, it is pretty much the attitude that the majority of people in the world today have. It does not matter what God says, some are not going to listen. How about you? Do you have the proper respect for God?

It is easy to say yes to that question, but it is a little more difficult to prove it. Remember, true godly fear is demonstrated by our obedience. If we really fear God, we will do what He tells us to do at all times, not just when we happen to like the command. A true demonstration of our reverence for God is seen when we do what He commands, even if we do not want to. Do you think Noah really wanted to build an ark? Do you think Abraham looked forward to offering up Isaac as a burnt offering? In the rest of the blogs this week, we will look at these examples and more of men who feared God and showed it by their lives.

If anyone deserves to be revered, it is God. He is, after all, our Creator, and He is great beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20). I hope you will read all the blogs this week and look up all of the scriptural references about fearing God. The more fear of God we have in our hearts, the more evil we can overcome (Proverbs 16:6).

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.