In the maiden edition of Revival Post, we began to explore the mystery of the Fear of the Lord and its importance to our lives today. We delved into debunking the myths that many hold as to the fear of God and explained the different states in which a man may fear God. Just like we established, the Fear of the Lord includes but is not limited to having an appropriate reverence and holy respect for God. It is also realizing that He is God and we are not. I believe one of the greatest tragedies today is that people have lost all fear of God, it is heartbreaking that this is so. We truly should fear God even though we have over the years been taught only to love him. However, the day will come when this will change and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is God.
SO WHY MUST WE FEAR GOD?
Understanding who God is, is key to relating with Him and all that concerns Him. In fact, it is impossible to properly relate with what one does not understand.
This is why we will enumerate from scriptures five important reasons why we must fear the LORD. Come with me.
1. God is Sovereign.
Sovereignty is the full and legal right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from external sources or bodies. So when we say that God is sovereign, we affirm that He is entirely independent and does what He likes. He does not take permission from anyone in order to do what He wills as all things are under His control.
“But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” (Psalms 115:3)
“Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places” (Psalm 135:6)
“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, what doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35)
God is indeed sovereign and He cannot be held to ransom; He is great and mighty in power and no one else is like Him. Hallelujah!
2. God is the only wise One, His understanding is infinite and unsearchable.
Another reason to fear the LORD is because He is in Himself wisdom, and because He does not live in time, He knows yesterday, today and forever. There is no question too hard for Him to answer or any situation too complicated for Him. He is not bound by the foolishness of this world. He is all knowing.
“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding” (Isaiah 40:28)
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)
3. God is the original Creator, nothing preexists Him
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I, the LORD, have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with His Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isaiah 45:7-9)
God made all things. Everything you can think of originates from Him. There is nothing seen or known, no grand idea, vision or dream is new to Him. He is the originator of all things, big and small, important and insignificant. Who else can do these things but the LORD God Almighty? Fear Him!
Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.(Isaiah 66:1-2)
4. He is a Supreme Judge, and He rules in all spheres and determines all outcomes.
God is able to judge all because He knows all, He is the fairest judge. He does not take sides, He rules according to His will and His word. This makes Him the highest standard of righteousness.
“That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17)
5. God is the eternal one.
One other important reason why we must live in the fear of God is that all life proceeds from Him and He determines who lives and who perishes. He does not grow old, tired or weary, He is ever living. He has been, He is and when the world is long gone, He always will be. To Him, a thousand years are like a day and a day like a thousand years.
“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding” (Isaiah 40:28)
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
Even with these few reasons, what is there not to fear about such a One? Absolutely no one possesses a percentage of these characteristics of God. His personality is like none else. This is why our lives should be lived in fear of Him, worshipping Him for who He is. He is beyond what minds can even begin to fathom, He knows all and sees all. Glory be to God! Every time we meditate on these timeless truths from scripture, we find ourselves in awe of His majesty and cannot resist the urge to worship Him. This is the secret to a great Christian Life and intimacy with the Godhead.