What is the correct understanding of the fear of the Lord ??
And to what purpose and benefit is their ... in this " fearing of the Lord" ?
Do you then go through life cringing - knowing any or every wrong move - would then result in the big baseball bat coming from heaven and squatting us down into pro-verbial oblivion.
Is that how it works - and is that what scripture is seeking to promote and convey to us ?
"Jesus master" said it well when he conveyed these words " fear not them after they have killed the body have no more they can do, but rather fear him - "who" - after he has killed hath the power to cast both body and soul into hell fire. { yea fear him } !!
Proverbs tells a man this: the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom ~~ so then it would be fair to conclude that if a man doesn't then fear God - then buddy your not even off first base yet.
( and you don't even know which way is up )
But why fear him ?? aren't we admonished to rather love him and adore him ~~ so how do these two emotions then co-exist ? and work together unto our good ?
Think of parenthood then - and how a child loves his mum and dad... but yet the same child who loves them - if he is a wise child - will also fear that same parental authority in the home. And fear the rod of dis-approval ... and all of the ensuing consequences that follow with that of - behaving badly.
Now the child loves his parents ... but the fear aspect in the relationship also serves to remind him or her that if they dis-obey ... then the rod of correction is of surety on the way. And for their own benefit -and- that of the father's pleasure ~~ the discipline and the chastening will result in restoring peace and harmony to the family home again - and thus driving out that foolishness.
Therefore brethren knowing the evil in the world and the "body of sin" - seeks to (serve sin) being faced with temptation, wiles, schemes, and the devices of the devil ~~ we see then how the fear of the Lord - is their both to protect and to preserve ... Working unto our own good. !
Some reasons why we do fear the Lord
** Fear forsaking him and serving other gods (who are no gods at all )
** fear falling captive slave to sin again
** fear his discipline & his corrective Rod
** fear lest a promise being left to us - some of us should seem to come short of it.
** fear because "if the word spoken by angels was stedfast and every act of disobedience and trangression recieved a just recompense of reward - how then shall we esacpe if we neglect so great salvation ??
** We should fear him because (even because) sin is so very deceitful and hardens the heart of man like nothing else can !
** Brethren we should have his dread on our faces knowing that under no circumstances will anything that defiles or worketh abomination be permitted access or gain entrance into The New Jerusalem.
** We should fear "ultimate rejection" and that of ultimate (lock-out) failing and falling short of the grace of God. Even as Esau -- who for one lousy morsel of meat sold his entire birthright ( thus despising the inheritance - thereby )
The fear of God is indeed a healthy thing brethren
This fear though it hath not torment- should in no wise be taken lightly or easily pushed to oneside -- not forgeting and remembering these words from that of Hebrews " knowing therefore the Terror of the Lord we persuade men"
And when paul had reasoned with Felix of righteousness, temperance and of Judgement to come ( felix trembled ) and said go thy way for now and i will get back to you at a more convienient season.
Apperently Felix though didn't quite fear and tremble enough - at least not to the point of instant repentance and conversion.
Judgement to come ... is plenty good reason to have (his dread) on our faces - that we sin not.
Scriptures teach that these "two heart felt emotions" work similtaneously and in perfect unison ... and thus co-exist for our good - and our well being - and unto our everlasting benefit(Glory)
And all this with-out paradox, anomoly, or contradiction to boot !!
Jesus himself taught the "fear of the Lord" ( and he( Jesus ) was heard - in that [he feared] - and so we see Jesus himself setting the ultimate example... in that he himself walked in reverance to that of - the father. !!
And knowing that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked -- our creator knows what is best for us ...and so to nurture this thing of reverence brethren and this thing of dread -- working out our own salvation with both fear and trembling - is to be the person ... who is indeed wise.
And is going to be by virtue of what he nurtures and practices - that someone who rests safely and securely under the everlasting arms. !!!
(A good and nice feeling indeed ) !!!
Be blessed in him ....saints
S.O.F
