The Necessity of FEAR

The topic we had during bible study at church tonight was so timely for me as it coincides with the topic I was wanting to write about since last Sunday. Although we delved into a portion of Psalm 119, the topic of fear which I wanted to touch in this post, came about in relation to obedience.

Fear is one of the words we seldom consider as positive. It is defined by dictionaries as a feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger. We usually want to steer clear of it that somehow in the mid-1990's, we've managed to embrace without question the "No Fear" slogan of the lifestyle clothing created by Mark Simo, Brian Simo and Marty Moates.

Although it seems ideal for the human nature to want to overcome Fear, the bible teaches us to value its essence at some point in time. In Proverbs 1:7 we read that...

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..."

The word "fear" in this verse comes from the Hebrew word "יִרְאָה" yirah, which originated from a primary root word "יָרֵא", yare, meaning affright, or put in fearful reverence. Understand that it talks about a different level of fear. It talks about REVERENCE. If you look up the definition of this word in the dictionary, it would be defined as a feeling of profound awe and respect and often love.

This biblical "fear" of the Lord in Proverbs 1:7 is not about torment caused by the presence or imminence of danger as it has been defined above. It is about respecting and being in awe of a Creator who has power beyond anything else there is in this world. It is in giving this reverence to God that a human being begins to acknowledge God's power, God's precepts (in another word, rule or law), and God's holiness, as well as one's depravity and sinful state. 

No individual comes face to face with the reality of his vile, sinfulness and depravity unless he comes to a point in his life where he gives the real and total reverence to an Almighty Creator. We have been trying to convince ourselves that we are fearless creatures that emerged into this world from a cosmic blast, and we could live this life according to our own whims and strengths. We have been drowned in this idea of being the "Captains of our own ships" and the "Masters of our own souls". 

We all have elevated ourselves on a pedestal as we swallow whole the teachings of Psychology. But Psychology has brought us to a state of stupor where all we see is SELF. We have come to a level of personal pride that consumes us into believing that we can be who we want to be, and do what we want to do without any regard as to what happens after we die. The only tense we have programmed our lives to be in is the present tense and there is no longer a convincing on our part of an eternity that awaits our souls at the end of our time here on earth.

We may "party 'til the break of dawn" in this lifetime, but it will never change the reality of God's truth that is in the bible...

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 

(2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV, emphasis added)

By then, a different kind of fear will consume us if we do not know HIM who sits on that throne. Do not let the pride of self eat you whole and leave you apathetic! Jesus Christ will hold you accountable on that day of judgment.

So now understand that every human being that has walked on earth has one sole longing that will tug and nag over and over again, it is the longing to "KNOW". We all journey through life wanting to really be in the know of what life is all about. We want to understand our circumstances, we want to know why we're here, we search for answers to many of life's questions... we want to gain the right knowledge to all that involves the life we are living. You want to know the answer to your life's purpose? LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD... "The FEAR OF THE LORD is the BEGINNING of KNOWLEDGE..."

Are you living without fear? Don't wait for eternity to teach you about fear the hard way. Know that you have been "fearfully and wonderfully made" (psalm 139). You have a Creator whose ways are magnificent. You are NOT your ship's captain, nor are you your soul's master. Change your paradigm and learn to embrace FEAR... it is a necessity, after all, when you consider eternity. 

Be blessed always...