Fear God, or else?

June 17, 2020 (Wednesday)

 

    What’s the story? We ended chapter 13 with it appearing as if the false has won. Today we see personal struggles. Our culture seems to be losing ground quickly to sin. The church is losing “punch.” The Christian response seems to be to crawl under a rock. 96% of Christians will not share their faith in their life time (Billy Graham). We compromise with the politically correct views of culture. Some have doubts about Jesus, Creation, and the Bible, etc. There is a growing ignorance about the Bible and basic theology. Add a growing intolerance to the basics of discipleship, and I don’t know about you but the future of the church looks and feels dark.

    Despite the seeming victory, the “eternal gospel” is still proclaimed. “And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.” [Revelation 14:6 – 7 NLT] Notice the Good News (gospel) is “eternal.” In other words the means of salvation has always been the same. Through faith (human response to God’s initiative). Notice the necessity to believe in a creator. I am convinced, the Bible is clear; you cannot follow Jesus (the creator) and believe in evolution (no creator).

    The proclamation is to fear God. Let’s pause for a brief history lesson. After the Civil War Christians focused on personal response. After World War II Christians focused on personal benefits. Currently Christians are focusing on personal experience.

    “Fear” is not a word we want to associate with God. The concept of God has gotten wishy-washy, timid, unassertive, spineless, and candy machine like. The fact is the unbeliever will face judgement and eternal life in an eternal hell. The follower of Jesus seems to have forgotten Hebrews 12:28 – 29 which states, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (The word translated “awe” or “godly fear” means “caution” (“dread”).

    The Greek word in Revelation 14:7 is “phobeo,” meaning “to be terrified.” The verb is also an “imperative” meaning there is no choice. Nor is there another option. In English we have an expression: “Familiarity breeds contempt.” We “think” we know God. In reality we can know Him only to the extent we know the Bible.

    Why am I saying this? Because understanding the awesome, undeniable, holy power of God is the FIRST step in both wisdom and understanding (according to Proverbs). Without a genuine fear of God we can never understand the depths of His love for us.

    Notice there is a SEQUENCE: Fear God is first. The Bible requires us to repent and walk worthy of the calling we have received. It is NOT possible to be saved without genuine life changing fear of God and repentance. Why is this critical? Hebrews 12:14 is clear. No one will see the Lord without holiness (meaning without holiness we spend eternity in hell.)

    The next thing is to give God glory. Problem: we tend to reduce this to a simple emotion or response. God’s honor (glory) is the only thing He does not and will not share. Basically this is the other side of “fear.” Worship God as maker of heaven and earth. To worship means to “honor.” This is not just words: It is actions; it is attitude; it is affections.