THE LACK OF GODLY FEAR HAS PUT THIS WORLD IN A PRECIPITOUS PLUNGE! We’ve been told not to wonder that the younger generation has no reverence for God, for they do as their godless leaders do–their Hollywood role models, their teachers, and sadly enough, their parents. “No Fear” is inhaled from the atmosphere; “No Fear” is preached by bumper stickers; “No Fear” is calcified in the haughty hearts of unbelievers. How so? “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.” Eccl. 8:11, 13.
Divine vengeance can break in swiftly, as it did on a certain scoffer who, wielding his sword, challenged the Almighty God to come on the scene to fight with him. Ignoring such foolish commotion, God snuffed out the life of this man, simply by sending a little insect to lodge in his windpipe, causing his death.1
“Let all the inhabitants of the world” take warning to “stand in awe of Him” who said, “Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:5.
There is an evil spirit abounding all around us, a spirit that tries to seep into our heart and mind, a spirit that wants to pull the God of heaven down from His fearful pre-eminence to a level of casual familiarity. Do we know who God really is? Have we seen Him as Isaiah saw Him, high and lifted up upon His throne; His train filling the temple; the seraphims crying, “Holy, holy, holy”; the door posts moving; the house filled with smoke? Once Isaiah saw Him, he saw himself and cried “Woe is me! for I am undone” (Isaiah 6:5). Godly fear had gotten a hold of him. Oh, that it would get a hold of us!
The solution for this fearless age lies not in blaming the ill-affected atmosphere we live in, or as someone indicated, in practically making excuses for what we deal with, because “it’s in the air!” Of course, it is! That is the challenge! We must put other molecules into the air by our holy lives, by our righteous spirit, by an incessant “God-consciousness” in all that we do, say, and think. “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee,” said the Psalmist. Such holy trembling would chase mediocre living out the door. Ultimately, holy trembling is an act of adoration and worship, as is described in the words of G. D. Watson: “There is nothing more beautiful in the interior life than that sacred awe, that sweet and sacred dread, which the soul feels in the presence of its Lord. When we gaze at His beautiful and blazing majesty, when our whole soul feels a gentle trembling before Him, there is something in the very holy dread that draws us to a deeper and more tender love. Soon, oh, so soon we are to stand right in the blazing realities of God and eternity, and our faculties are hardly half awake.” 2
Saints, do we not need a fresh awakening to know how to “serve the Lord with fear” and how to “rejoice with trembling”? Do we grasp that “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psalm 89:7)?
As Jacob of old, let us awaken out of our sleep! Let us realize what he realized: “Surely the Lord is in this place...And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:16-17). Are we afraid? Do we experience that fearful awe and wonder of God’s presence during our worship services? Can the Holy Ghost penetrate our soul? Do we tremble at the voice coming from the burning bush? Moses trembled. Do we? Dare we to stand on holy ground unstirred? Dare we to draw nigh with those shoes of casualness, lightness, indifference? Off! Off with those shoes! Oh, for a stronger dosage of godly fear at the very gate of heaven!
“By faith Noah…moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house” (Heb. 11:7). Fathers, mothers, do the same. By example, teach your children the fear of the Lord. Teach them the correct posture of humbly kneeling in sacred prayer during family devotions. Read to them the account of the men of Bethshemeth, who were smitten when they dared to uncover the ark of God to look inside. Such a great slaughter for just one look! Read to them the account of Uzzah who was struck dead when he stretched out his hand to steady the holy ark. Such an execution of judgment for just one touch! Read to them the account of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who offered strange fire, only to be devoured by God’s holy fire. Such a punishment for one careless act! What’s more, Father Aaron held his peace and was not permitted to show signs of grief or sorrow!
Impress upon your children’s hearts the seriousness of disobeying God’s commands, of being too familiar with the things of God. Teach them to respectfully handle the Book of books. Forbid them to quote God’s holy Word with a twist of content for the sake of silly laughter, lest they be found guilty of mocking God. It is said, that in ancient times when the Scriptures were copied, before writing a name for Deity, the copyists put new pens into their writing instruments, took a bath, and changed their raiment. What a profound demonstration of reverence and godly fear!
“Happy is the man that feareth alway” (Proverbs 28:14). The practice of godly fear produces a happy people, a joyful church. She is multiplied and God is glorified as she walks “in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” Amen.
