“FEARING GOD (PART I)”

“Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?”   (Job 1:9)

        Speaking to various preachers that I know personally, I often ask, or am asked the questions,  “What’s wrong with our churches?  What’s wrong with America?”  We often state, “Folks just don’t seem to fear God.  So much is said in the scriptures about fearing God.  There are literally hundreds of references on the topic of fearing God.  So why is it such an avoided point of discussion by pastors and Christians alike? 

     Great men of God have given candid descriptions of what it’s like to truly fear God.  John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress) said of fearing God, “Men crumble to dust at the presence of God; yea, though He comes to us in the robes of righteousness.”  Jacob said, “How dreadful is this place!” He didn’t say how terrible, etc. (Genesis 28:10-17)  He knew on the other side of that gate he would be in the presence of God.  Daniel made this statement in Daniel 10:16,17, “For how can  the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? For as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.”  Why did Daniel feel weak and become speechless?  Because he had been in the presence of the Holy God.  John the beloved apostle writes in Revelation 1:12-17, “And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead.”  John knew he was in the presence of The Holy God man.

    The world as we know it is in a constant condition of chaos, calamity and unrest.  Financial woes are gripping many countries, even our own, causing people to blame God and turn to other mediums for a hopeful solution.  Health concerns and issues are plaguing people all over the world.  Natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions are happening all too often.  The crime rate throughout the world has skyrocketed in the past ten years as further evidence that men just have no regard for their fellow man, much less any fear for God, of whom they conveniently blame for all these problems.  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)  “God shall hear and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah.  Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” (Psalm 55:19)  “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Psalm 36:1)

     The fact is: everyone who has ever lived on planet Earth will one day meet God.  “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”(Amos 4:12)  Men fear other men, different and powerful elements, but not God. “And 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.” (Matthew 10:28)  We need to fear God, not as a dreadful God, but as the Holy God of Heaven who demands and deserves our respect, love and loyalty.  “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” (Psalm 89:7)  Do you really fear God?  Next week, Part II.

         Pastor H. Preston Parker