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There are many directions a person can take in life, but the Bible says that as we make decisions, either we can be wise or fools. If we want to be wise, we must start by dealing with our hearts in that we must be sure that we fear the Lord and have surrendered our lives to Him. Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Those who fear the Lord are those who have true wisdom, understanding, and insight as to what this world and this life is all about. They are those who do not waffle when it comes to principle and truth, but they stand firm for righteousness and justice, things in which God delights. Those who fear the Lord don’t pander to the crowd or seek to people-please, but they seek to please the Audience of One.

In addition to being the beginning of wisdom, the fear of the Lord is also the end of all things, that is, it is the summation of our purpose and life on this earth. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." Some live for selfish pleasure, others for riches, and others for fame, notoriety and vain ambition. Those who are wise, however, will live by the guiding principle of the fear of the Lord. They will seek His will above their own, knowing that God sees all and will hold them accountable for how they live. Those who could care less about God’s judgment because they don’t fear Him won’t care to receive the gospel. But those who do fear the just punishment of God for sin have reason and incentive to trust in Christ. The fear of the Lord is the only right posture for living, and it is the only way that leads to wisdom.

Fearing the Lord is thus a starting point for faith and a guiding motivator for life in Christ. Our entire lives should be lived by fearing God and keeping His commandments. Those who fear God will keep the commands of God, living out Christ’s desires on earth. When we fail to fear God and thereby exalt ourselves, we will sin. The fear of God is to be a lifelong posture which will enable us to walk in holiness over the long haul. The Christian life requires much perseverance, and a right view of a holy God will help keep us on the right track. Proverbs 28:14 says, "How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity." As soon as we start being careless, as soon as we devalue eternal priorities in exchange for temporal pleasure, and as soon as we lose sight of God’s nature as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), we will walk arrogantly and lackadaisically into Satan’s traps. It is imperative that we recognize that we are engaged in a battle and that we represent the true Sovereign of the universe. There is nothing else and no one else to fear but God. He alone has all power, and nothing happens beyond what He ordains. He deserves our full allegiance, obedience, respect, reverence, awe, and fear. God’s manifestations of Himself as recorded in the Scripture as wind, earthquakes, trumpets, fire, thunder, and so on are there to remind us of His awesome power, wonder, and authority (1 Kings 19:11-12, John 12:29). He is the Master of the universe, and we must keep that in mind as we make choices each day.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:28, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Only unbelievers will face God’s wrath in hell, so, as believers, we wrongly understand the idea of fearing God if we think God is going to pour out His wrath upon us. The proper motivator for a disciple of Christ is not that we fear that we will go to hell, for we are already promised heaven. Rather, our motivation is to remember that we serve a God Who has all authority, authority to save and authority to cast into hell. This is a God of all power, justice, and love, and He must be viewed and worshipped as He really is. As disciples of Christ, we need not fear what man can do to us because God is in charge. That He is pleased with our lives is all that matters, and those who fear Him will live to that very end. We must keep a high view of God. God is God, He is perfect, and He demands all of our worship, devotion, attention, and commitment. When we live being mindful of Who He is, we will fear because He sees all and knows all. He is awesome, and there is none like Him. All things are His, He owns everything, He made everything, He controls everything, and He is everywhere. Who is like the Lord our God? He alone is enthroned, and He alone deserves our praise. This is a high view of God which is proper, and if we keep it, we will tend to be much less careless in our choices when it comes to doing what we shouldn’t or not doing what we should.

May God enable us to reflect upon and be mindful of His holiness as we live our daily lives. There is none like our God Whose power, majesty, glory, holiness, and perfection demand our offering our lives in sacrifice and service to Him. This perspective leads to living in a proper posture of the fear of the Lord. In it is wisdom and understanding, and it is the only right way to live this life. One day we will be judged by Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) Whom God the Father loves, and may it be that we can be found to be good and faithful servants (Matthew 25:21). For the glory of Christ and the Father, let us live in a holy fear, remembering Who is on the throne and to Whom we are ultimately accountable (2 Corinthians 5:10). May His satisfaction, honor, and glory be our chief delight.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)