Fearing God and Keeping His Commandments

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:13,14). In light of this obviously all encompassing passage of scripture, I would like to make a point about the fear of the Lord. That point will be made simply by consistent evidence of the scriptures, and the point is being made because of almost universal elimination of the true fear of God from the Christian gospel. The Christian concept of the fear of the Lord is that it is not an actual fear, but rather some kind of healthy respect or reverence. Well, let's see what the Bible says about the matter, and we can begin with a scripture that is the new testament match for our text scripture: "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. Knowing therefore the TERROR of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences" (II Cor. 5:10,11). And let's hear from Job as well: "But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Therefore am I TROUBLED at his presence: when I consider, I am AFRAID of him" (Job 23:13-15). And again: "When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints; Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions" (Job 7:13,14). What did David say? "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with TREMBLING. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little." (Psm. 2:11,12). David also clafied that is an evil thing to not truly fear God: "The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes" (Psm. 36:1).

Now we'll move on to the prophets, and begin with Isaiah: "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and TREMBLETH at my word... Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word" (Isa. 66:2,5). And one more for Isaiah: "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread" (Isa. 8:13). And how about Jeremiah? "Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; ALL MY BONES SHAKE; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness" (Jer. 23:9). Jeremiah also showed that it is wicked to not fear God: "Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts" Jer. 2:19). And let's throw in a minor prophet for good measure: "When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble" (Hab. 3:16). Okay, let's move on now to Jesus and see if he changed anything about this divine truth and reality when he came: "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear : Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to CAST INTO HELL; yea, I say unto you, Fear him" (Lk. 12:5). Nope, he sure didn't. Now let's hear once again from the main writer of the new testament, the apostle Paul: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with FEAR and TREMBLING" (Philip. 2:12). "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it" (Heb. 4:1). "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence AND godly fear: For our God is a CONSUMING FIRE" (Heb. 12:26). And Peter weighs in on the conclusion of our discussion with a saying that takes us back to our opening passage: "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (I Pet. 1:17). So it is evident that God will judge the works of all men, and that true godly fear and terror must be had in the hearts of those who do NOT want to be found wanting in that day. Somebody needs to be reading the Bible and believing what they read, rather than to blindly follow those who are teaching blindness in regard to the sobering and powerful truth of God. Amen.