Read Ecclesiastes 8:10-13
A healthy fear of the Lord is not often talked about in today’s Church. But here again the preacher (Solomon) leads us to those thoughts. Let’s take a look at the second part of today’s passage, verses 12-13.
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
We see here in this short passage two truths that we would be wise to remember.
1. It will be well for those who fear God.
2. It will not be well for the wicked who do not fear God
Now before I go further by the term fear is often mistaken. Fear is not speaking of running around the house screaming, nor is it talking about huddling in the corner. What it is talking about is a respect and a sense of awe and wonder when it comes to the Lord. Realizing as my dad would say, The Lord brought us into this world, and he can take us out.
Today we don’t like to talk about a having a fear of the Lord. We like to view God as loving, caring, merciful, and tender. We like the God who forgave David, but not the One who destroyed Sodom. We remember Jesus as telling the little children to come to him, and not Jesus tearing through the temple. And in pacifying God in our own minds, so gone is that fear of the Lord. Instead even Christians will watch television that mocks our savior; we refer to Christ with terms like buddy, pal, and homeboy. And we are concerned more about what we think of worship, then what God thinks.
Yet the scripture paints a different picture of what we are called to do with the fear of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:13 - You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
2 Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
From Moses to Paul and many of the men in-between, the fear of the Lord has been a topic covered throughout the ages. God has a plan for each of us, and although He does love us and care about us. He also wants us to love him, and stand in awe of what He has done. He wants us to have a reverence towards Him, and He wants us to worship Him.
Action Points:
1. Do we have a healthy fear of the Lord, then let us continue, and not be swayed by the propaganda of the world.
2. Do we not have a healthy fear of the Lord, lets strive to change our point of view.
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