As we have been talking about fearless faith and the many times in the Bible that God reminds us not to fear because He is with us. Some of you Bible Scholars may indeed question the fact that just as often God’s word includes “to them that fear God.” How is it that we can justify “fearing God” and not having fear? In fact, God writes “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good” Jeremiah 32:40-41. At the same time that He is covenanting to always be present and to do good, He says He will put fear in their hearts. How is that possible? What could He possibly mean? Am I to tremble throughout my Christian walk, worried that I might make God angry and He send lightning bolts down to strike me? Is my faith to be fearless and yet full of fear both at the same time? Let me try to help any of you struggling with this.
photo courtesy of © istock/vernonwiley
REVERANT AWE THAT CONQUERS ALL FEAR
Many years of my Christian journey I did struggle with that very thought, bound within the chains which created such fear. I during those years spent much of my Christian walk defeated by my own attempts at being a “better Christian” and never able to rest in the truth of God’s love for me. Even if we look at the average dictionary there is a distinct difference made in the definitions of fear when referring to God. In the dictionary, it says that fear of God is awe and reverence, not panic and anxiety. Yet, does that fully explain the difference that God makes?
God has written,
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:19-21. He also said, “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Our salvation is secure from the moment we accept Christ as our Savior, having recognized that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We have nothing within this human flesh that could make us worthy of being in the presence of perfect righteousness. In our own humanity we fail. Our self-exalting, selfish hearts cannot realize that until we see God for who He is Glorious, Righteous and Just. We must fall in awe before Him. The more we see of His Glory, the more we recognize our unworthiness. We are unable to reach that point of salvation without having reached the point of acknowledging our own guilt and deserving of God’s full wrath against our sin filled hearts. Only then can we accept God’s free gift of Salvation. We must have come to the end of our selves before we even look to God. Christ also said,“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. Again, let us look at another verse. "It is a faithful saying… If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 1: 13. God cannot deny Himself. He provided a means of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ. That is His only means of salvation, all who deny Christ as the only way for salvation should be afraid. God will not deny His own righteousness nor justice just because you desire to believe, “there are many ways to heaven.” There will be many of you who may think me politically incorrect; but, I cannot alter God’s word. Nor will He. “God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
So, once saved; are we to fear God? Are we to be afraid of losing our salvation or of being eternally condemned because of our own “failures”? Am I to live my Christian life in fear of punishment? Let us look at Romans 8: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.….9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. ..15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Our “fear” becomes one that is born out of our love for the Father who adopted us, who chose us, who loved us. This is a reverant desire to reflect back to Him the Glory and Honor He deserves. We then desire to bring Him pleasure rather than to worship the gifts He might bestow, we worship the Giver. That makes us fearless to face whatever comes in life; because we trust and honor Him and trust in His love. Only He knows what is best for me and will perform it. Only He knows what trials will bring me closer to Him. Only He knows how best to use me as a mirror to reflect His Joy, His Glory and His Love to a world who needs Him. I pray you have a blessed day as you remember these two aspects of fear that give you fearless faith.
1. If you do not know Christ as Your Savior, judgment will come, so be afraid. Seek to know God, ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
2. If you are a Christian? Seek to see Him in His Glory, His mighty Power so that your reverence (fear) and awe is such as to allow you to trust Him in the midst of every trial and every valley of this journey. Only when you see His omnipotence can you be fearless in faith
I found this song by Ron Kenoly that I hope you enjoy, it is titled "I Bow My Knee."
©2013 Effie Darlene Barba
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