FEAR OF THE LORD
This is a famous bible verse (Proverbs: 9:10) which is being frequently resonated in every Christian homes. My childhood was also no different because I grew up hearing this verse very often. But for me it was just another bible verse which I memorized without understanding what it really meant. I started to know its meaning after I reached a certain position in my life where I began to love God and thus fear Him out of respect.
Wisdom is something which many value and desire to have, but unfortunately the same seems lacking in the current generation irrespective of the biological age. Many of the times we do not see the maturity that is expected of a person. Moreover, they act foolishly saying disrespectful words about others and become more self-centered without considering the fact that they might be hurting others with their words and behavior. Such experiences are very common in different social media platforms, newspapers and advertisements by the label of ‘freedom of expression’. The ultimate reason behind this which I believe is the ‘lack of fear of God’. When someone is aware that he is being watched always by the Almighty God who knows him inside out, i.e. the thoughts, its motives and intentions, the response after doing a mistake, then he will think twice or thrice before jumping on to something. Warren W. Wiersbe says, ‘What we believe about God in our hearts determines how we live’ and I find this so true.
According to the Holy Bible true wisdom begins only when a person starts to fear the Lord. First and foremost one has to believe that a living God exists who created the entire world and He is powerful and good enough to take care of each and every one who seeks Him, and He is a righteous God who is going to judge the whole world righteously. A true state of submission to that God is needed for us by casting away the self-pride and loftiness in our hearts. We see that God honored and did supernatural things in the lives of many people in the bible who humbled themselves before Him. One example being, King Solomon who was the wisest and richest king ever lived in the earth because God blessed and lifted him up (1 Kings: 2:12, 13). Bible does not introduce to us a God who is arrogant and bossy, but it reveals a God who is merciful, tender hearted and loving at the same time holy and righteous.
John: 3:16 & 17 says,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Our Lord Jesus humbled himself and came down to the earth, bore our sins on the cross so that we can have an eternal life free of punishment. But one has to believe in the redemption which was made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ and accept it realizing God’s love towards us. God had already provided us with His grace and the true solution for our sins that we commit in this world. But we need to have a heart ready to acknowledge our mistakes and dedicate ourselves before God asking His pardon and salvation. Bible says in Isaiah: 1:18 that “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Once we believe in this truth, it will set us free from the worldly cares, because our life will be under the control of the living God since we gave Him the permission to rule our lives. This is the point at which the fear of the Lord sets in. This fear is not a threatening or terrorizing one, but a genuine fear out of love and respect towards God. From this personal relationship with God we will begin to know the character and wisdom of God. Bible talks in James: 3:15-17 about two kinds of wisdoms, earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom.
2 Corinthians: 7:1 says, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
The new life which God gives us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior is very precious and it matters to Him a lot. So it is pleasing to God when we walk in that holiness and heavenly wisdom. The word of God (Holy Bible) and the Holy Spirit will help and guide us in that.
May Lord Jesus Christ help each and every one who reads this article to have a fear of God so that we become wiser enough to set our lives in order, aligned to His will.