Fear of God

Recently my Bible studies have been about the preparation in this life which readies us for eternal life. It is clear that we are not supposed to continue living as we were before salvation. In fact, Jesus led a life in which He overcame sin, the flesh and the world just so that we also could overcome. His purpose wasn’t to be like us, but that we would be like Him; i.e. overcomers. To be like Him, we must know Him.


As I read, questions come up. I wondered why there are teachers that present a Jesus that doesn’t care if we fail, and is OK with believers remaining in their unsanctified state. I also wondered what it means to fear God. Jesus knew God as His Father and yet His prayers were heard because He feared, or had reverent submission (Heb 5:7).

The Lord answers our wonderings with thoughts that give His perspective on things. Today I will share just such a thought, given in answer to my wonderings. Here it is;

“Who do you think you’re going to meet on judgment day? A guy like you? Fear of God is this; knowing you’re going to be accountable to God and living your life accordingly.” (see 2 Cor 5:10).

Sounds harsh? Or, does it bring up anger, knowing that God would require us to be anything more than who we are? For me this thought brings a clear separation between God’s nature and mine. If we think that God is like us we will fail to grasp a hold of the powerful Life of Christ within. That Life is the Life of the Holy Spirit, which prepares us for eternity by sanctifying us daily so that we will be like Him. He washes us with the water of His word so that we can be free of the weights that encumber our race, to emerge the victor (Eph 5:25-27; Heb 12:1).

The Lord’s thoughts seem loaded with meaning. We would perform our earthly jobs differently if our work was being judged by someone who could fire us. But if our work was being evaluated by someone just like us, with weaknesses and inconsistencies, we might be more relaxed. How then do we live our lives as ones who will give account to God?

If I use the same example of earthly work, to do a good job we would use the knowledge and skills we have on a daily basis. When temptations come to do inferior work, or to take a short cut that has high risks, we probably wouldn’t succumb to them. The decision to not give in to temptations or short cuts eventually show our employer not only that our work is good, but that we as his employees have a good work ethic, or integrity. Our employer would trust our work, and give us a promotion with more responsibilities and a pay raise.

If this is beginning to sound like the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30), your perception is right. The faithful servants had fear of God and served Him as One to whom they would give account to. He rewarded them handsomely for their faithfulness. However, the unfaithful servant had no fear of God. He thought God was like him; unfaithful and unpredictable. That servant was only a servant in name, and not action, for he did nothing with the skill and knowledge God gave him.

Daily we are prepared for eternity by the One whom we shall give account to. Let us see Him as God and live our lives accordingly. After all, this is what Jesus taught; this is what Jesus did. Amen.