When Paul was in prison in Caesarea, the Roman ruler Felix had Paul brought to him often, and Paul preached to him concerning Christ. We read that as Paul reasoned with Felix of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, that Felix trembled.
Sadly, trembling is all he did. We read that Felix had a more accurate knowledge of that way, so he was familiar with the message of salvation through Christ that Paul preached, but his only reaction was to tremble. He did not act on his fears. Thoughts about the coming judgment of God on a wicked world may have frightened him, but he was not frightened enough to respond to the gospel call.
Fear is not a bad thing. We read that “By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Fear motivated Noah to take the action necessary to save his life and the lives of his family. He worked very hard to build the ark because he was afraid of the coming flood.
Fear can help motivate us to make wise decisions. Knowing the consequences of robbing a bank or driving at excessive speeds makes us fearful to do those things lest we end up in jail or have to pay large fines. We learn in the book of Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Knowing that our God is the mighty creator of the universe, the one who has the power of life or death over us, it is wise for us to have a healthy fear of Him and to seek to please and obey Him. In Proverbs we also learn, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Safety and security as well as the hope of eternal life are the reward for those who fear the Lord.
Our attitude should be, as we read in the book of Hebrews, “Let us serve God acceptably with reverence and fear, for our God is a consuming fire.” We do well to show a healthy respect and reverence for our God and strive to please Him. We have a warning, “For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment” and “zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries.”
Those in the world around us who ignore God or who fail to respect His standards face divine consequences. They should be afraid. Those who love and fear God and have chosen to obey the gospel and be baptized and serve Him do not need to be afraid. We read in the epistle of John, “There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love. We love because God first loved us.” God loves those who respond to His love for them, and He has given His Son to bring salvation to those who will listen and obey His call. While godly fear may have been the initial motivation for us to respond to God’s call, we now can rest in His love knowing that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.
What do we say to the many people living in the world nowadays who are trembling? Mankind is facing terrible problems in our times. There are countries teetering on the point of financial collapse and almost bankrupt. There are wars in the Middle East, between Russia and the Ukraine, and in Africa. Al-Qaeda and ISIS, organizations dedicated to destroying Israel, also hate the US and its allies. We hear warnings about global warming, rising ocean levels, widespread drought, crop failures, famines, epidemics of diseases such as Ebola, and other natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes and extreme weather. Morally our society seems to have sunk to the depths.
We are witnessing the fulfillment of the words of Jesus: “For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the son of man be.’ Jesus said that prior to his coming, “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring. Men’s hearts failing them with fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.’
We do believe that we are now living in those last days just prior to the return of our Lord, who when he comes will make all the wrong things in this world right. There is some trembling going on around us right now but there is a lot more to come.
Trembling is not the answer. We need to hear the exhortation of our Lord, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.’
The coming of the Lord will find the whole world just like Felix when he trembled and did nothing more. Felix perished. Let us warn all those we know to seek the Lord while there is still time. We pray that folks will heed the warnings that our world is in the final stages before the return of Christ. We pray that they may choose to be baptized as we have been, and then together we can look expectantly for the coming of the Lord.
Even so come Lord Jesus.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One