Fearing God
Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
How many times have you heard well-meaning Christians say, “Fearing God is an Old Testament concept. Now, we have Jesus as our friend!” A verse often quoted is 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” The context of these words was Paul’s reminder to Timothy of the gift of saving faith that he received, a gift that was fanned by his grandmother and mother who likewise had received the gifts of saving faith. Their instruction to young Timothy would later serve to fuel his boldness and courage as a minister of the gospel. Paul contrasted the fear a believer has toward God and worldly terror which promotes timidity and cowardice. God gives the believer boldness and courage within the context of love and self-control.
There is another aspect of fearing God. Whether you are a Christian or not, fearing God is the proper response of a creature to the Creator. The Bible speaks a great deal concerning fearing God, and it is a subject of much of Scripture. Three texts come readily to mind that concern man’s response to his Creator. Ecclesiastes 12:13, Matthew 10:28, and 1 Peter 2:17 provide clear descriptions of fearing God.
Solomon, who was declared by God to be the wisest man who ever lived, expressed his deepest thoughts concerning life. He had every opportunity for greatness. He had great wealth. He had absolute worldly power over his kingdom. He pursued every passion and desire of his flesh. After evaluating all of his pursuits, he declared them all to be like hot air, “vanity of vanities”, Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12:8. Solomon repeated the vanity of man’s pursuits in the beginning of Ecclesiastes and at the end. Solomon’s conclusion concerning the purpose of life and all of man’s pursuits was: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
From Solomon, king of Israel, to the Apostle Peter, the fear of God was known and declared to be central. Peter wrote, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17).
Peter wrote to the church and exhorted her members to be holy people, set apart to God. He encouraged them to behave as those who have been changed by God. He called Christians to honor everyone; to sacrificially love those within the household of God and to fear God. Their fear of God was demonstrated in their worship. Fear includes a sense of awe, trembling and reverence.
In the view of Solomon, fearing God was the only reasonable posture of the life of a human being. Likewise, the Apostle Peter gave the church God’s guidance for life. Yet, both Solomon and Peter based their exhortations on an underlying assumption.
This underlying assumption was given by Jesus. In Matthew 10:28, Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” This is God’s answer. Men are to fear God because of who He is and what He can do. Jesus’ words provide clarity. Jesus said that only God has absolute sovereignty over His creatures. Therefore, we must approach Him with great humility. We are finite and He is infinite. We have limited power. He has absolute power. Jesus said, “all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
Only fools live in denial of the absolute power and authority of God (see Psalm 14:1). Only a fool would risk an eternity in hell! Why should we fear God? We fear God because He alone is God!
How many think that their lives are hidden before God? How many are blind to the truth that they are created beings? How many give explanations for creation that fit within their limited understanding? How many think that there is no God to fear?
We fear God because, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). We fear God because He is holy, sovereign, faithful, just, all-knowing, all-powerful, and so on.
Everything you see around you is there because of our Creator God. We have been made to worship God. He is to be feared. He is the one who sent Jesus, His one and only Son. Jesus is the one who has the words of eternal life. Fear God!
