Fear of the Lord, as reverence of the Lord is mentioned many times in scripture and therefore we conclude it has an important part in effecting conversion, obedience and faith We learn from Psalm 111 10 that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” and we read in Hebrews 12 28-29 that “we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” In these verses, “fear” means awe and reverence This kind of fear produces a healthy faith.
Our duty to God is expressed m Ecclesiastes 12:13 where a healthy form of reverence is m mind “Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man”
Developing reverence
When we contemplate the great power and majesty of God, we are overcome with awe When we meditate further that He has created us and sustains our lives, we are motivated to honor and serve Him from our heart The Psalmist says it best “O Lord our God, how excellent is thy name in all the earth$ who hast set thy glory above the heavens When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psa 8 1-4) This awe of God’s greatness instills reverence for Him as our Creator
Fear as terror
Hebrews uses “fear” in a different sense in chapter 10 If we sin willfully after receiving the truth, we face “a certain fearful looking for of judgment It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10 26-31) This is not awe, but terror that is in mind.
Terror is no doubt what John writes of, “And I saw another angel fly m the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters” (Rev 14 7) A temporary right response may be evoked by such tenor, but it will not save to eternal life for m the end the “fearful, and unbelieving” are destroyed (Rev 21 8).
It is evident the fearful conscience does not contain love or acceptable reverence As John writes in his first epistle “God is love, and he that dwelleth m love dwelleth m God, and God in him Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness m the day of judgment There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment He that feareth is not made perfect m love” (1 John 4 16-19).
Terror wrongly used
Theologies which are based on fear of an invective God or a supernatural devil are debilitating to any who seek to worship God m truth Such terror-driven religions dominated the laity in past centuries as the clergy maintained control over their minds Their hostility went so far as to impose state laws against all nontrinitarian fellowships We should always be grateful to our Heavenly Father that we now have freedom to speak the Truth without fear m most countries of the world We should not waste this opportunity.
Warring against seducing spirits
In many countries, the church system still uses terror tactics whenever it can While we are not so exposed to that, we are warned to oppose continually the apostate system however it may be working m our time and area As Paul warns, “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim 4 1-5).
The saint is urged to oppose such teachings as if they were at war But “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God “(II Cor 10 4-5) In another place the apostle uses a similar figure “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day ” (Eph 611-13).
Such language may seem too strong for our circumstances Our spiritual adversary is often beguiling, because it conceals itself under the pretense of Christian charity But we must not entertain any wistful thoughts of working with the apostate system for, just as in Paul’s day, it manifests its true character when challenged with scriptural truth Thus our presentation of the Truth must not be marked with fear, but with boldness and conviction, accompanied with humility
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One