Golden Nugget - What is the fear of the Lord? Part 2

The phrases ‘the fear of the Lord’ or ‘they feared the Lord’ and so on are often used in the Bible.  I felt the Lord wanted me to add a little clarity about what the fear of the Lord actually entails.  The previous post (to read it, click here) was an introduction and in this post, we continue where we left off.

We read in 2 Timothy 4:3: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  This is true for the time we’re living in.  I can think of a number of things that people these days want to hear and that teachers, therefore, teach. 

One is the idea that God is love and therefore merciful and kind only; in other words, He will tolerate whatever we want Him to bear with.  Some tend to forget, though, that one of the qualities of His love is that it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, (1 Corinthians 13:6).  In other words, because He is love, He has to deal with evil, i.e. with sin and disobedience.  We also see in Jeremiah 9:23-24: This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Have you noted that the Lord mentioned that He exercises these three things; kindness (love) and justice and righteousness on earth – not only love?  The latter two will, therefore, not only be exercised on Judgement Day but actually now, here on earth? 

You may, however, say that we live in the time of grace; in New Testament times.  Yes we do, but do you remember Ananias and Sapphira as recorded in Acts 5:1-11. Verse eleven said: And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.  What did they fear?  They feared the consequences of ungodly behaviour, which in the case of believers, is the Lord’s discipline (Hebrews 4-12) and Jesus’ judgement one day.  And do you remember what happened with King Herod as recorded in Acts 12:20-23? 

But these people haven’t been true Christians, you may say.  That’s the point. Who are true Christians?  Herod was not a Christian at all; in fact he persecuted the church, but that was not why he was killed.  He was killed because he did not acknowledge the Lord and honoured Him.  

Ananias and Sapphira, on the other hand, were Christians, like millions of Christians today.  They did believe in Jesus and God’s grace and all the things that are convenient, very much like many Christians today.  They were killed because they lied to the Holy Spirit - they did not honour the Lord either.  They were self-centred and carnal.  If we’re honest with ourselves, how many of us are like that?  We saw in the reaction of the church that they were very afraid of God.  Why would that have been?  It was because they learned that God does not play when it comes to disobedience, dishonour, and sin. 

So what is an untrue Christian?  Is it a person who conveniently believe in Jesus Christ as their saviour just to save their skin from hell, but they live a life that suits their own desires?  Jesus describes a true Christian in John 14:21 among other similar passages: Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.  Remember this passage, for in future posts we are going to have a look at some commands of Jesus that ought to instil the fear of the Lord if you disobey them.

Another misleading itching-ear teaching is the idea that God does everything and we only have to passively read the Bible, have a prayer relationship with Him, and worship Him.  This is an entire teaching on its own, for the New Testament is loaded with commands instructing disciples to be fruitful and productive – to be active doers of Jesus’ instructions.  Being disobedient in this respect should also lead to fearing the Lord, which will be highlighted in the posts to follow.

          So why do we need to fear the Lord?  Basically it is because He disciplines those He loves whilst on earth (Hebrews 4-12) and one day we will answer before the judgement seat of Christ for all we have done.  2 Corinthians 5:9-11: So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.  What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.  

In the posts to follow we will expand on why we need to fear the Lord. To be continued.


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