Posted on 10/21/2016 5:11:15 AM PDT by Gamecock
I recently heard a young Christian remark, “I have no fear of dying.” When I heard this comment I thought to myself, “I wish I could say that.” I am not afraid of death. I believe that death for the Christian is a glorious transition to heaven. I am not afraid of going to heaven. It’s the process that frightens me. I don’t know by what means I will die. It may be via a process of suffering, and that frightens me. I know that even this shouldn’t frighten me. There are lots of things that frighten me that I shouldn’t let frighten me. The Scripture declares that perfect love casts out fear. But love is still imperfect, and fear hangs around.
There is one fear, however, that many of us do not have that we should have. It is the fear of God. Not only are we allowed to fear God, we are commanded to fear Him. A mark of reprobation is to have no fear of God before our eyes.
Martin Luther made an important distinction concerning the fear of God. He distinguished between servile fear and filial fear. He described servile fear as that kind of fear a prisoner has for his torturer. Filial fear is the fear of a son who loves his father and does not want to offend him or let him down. It is a fear born of respect. When the Bible calls us to fear God, it is issuing a call to a fear born of reverence, awe, and adoration. It is a respect of the highest magnitude.
Coram Deo
Ask God to give you filial fear for Him, an attitude of reverence, awe, and adoration.
Passages for Further Study
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
Proverbs 16:6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
1. Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel
2. But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee
Though prostrate in the dust
3. Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner's prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there
4. Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet,
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet
Ping!
Everyone have a great weekend! Hope to be back Monday.
The term in the Old Testament describing a view of the Lord that in English is rendered “fear” almost always has a meaning closer to “awe.” It simultaneously impresses and moves to an unselfish desire for righteousness.
If other, selfish kinds of “fear” are substituted in this dynamic, the result is an ugly perversion of faith.
I have died, went to Heaven, and returned to this physical body, not by my choice. It just was not my time to leave here. I live solely do do God’s Will as His servant, whatever that is. The hardest thing in life is to always listen to His guidance wherever it leads me and not allow my ego to step in and “Play God.” His Will, not my will. I try my best to align my will with His, but easier said than done.
Having experienced God’s Love first hand, allow me to say that I not only no longer fear death, but look forward to returning to Heaven to experience His Love all the time.
God’s Love is so profound, it is impossible to experience fear while you are in His Love. His perfect Love casts out fear.
The really difficult part of this journey was God’s command to me, “Love Me in all the people around you.” Truly it is a 1John 4 command. But it’s not the same as people have many layers hiding God’s Love.
I Love God so much that it is impossible to fear Him. The same is true of Jesus, His Son.
“When the Bible calls us to fear God, it is issuing a call to a fear born of reverence, awe, and adoration. It is a respect of the highest magnitude.”
Bingo... I 100% agree
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