Fear God

The writer of Ecclesiastes begins his book by questioning the very point of life.  There is nothing new to discover, and all of life seems vain and temporary. He is very jaded. Twelve chapters later he tells us his conclusion; the only thing that lasts or has any real meaning is the fear or reverence of God and obedience to Him.  We would do well to listen.

“The conclusion, when all has been

heard, is; fear God, and

keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13

The fear of God is a rare commodity in our society.  Most people rarely think of God at all.  His name is used casually, as an expression of surprise or shock, or profanely, as an expression of anger or irritation.  Even among Christians, there is little reverence for the name of God.  One Christian leader routinely says “God bless America” to keep himself from swearing.  He doesn’t see this as profanity. 

I wonder if God would agree.  The Old Testament Jews certainly wouldn’t.  They held the name of God to be so sacred they would neither say it nor write it down.  Proverbs 9:10 reminds us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.  God Himself spends four chapters reminding Job of his position in comparison to God.  Job remembered to fear God! 

We do not fear God because we’ve forgotten or chosen to ignore the characteristics of God that are holy and righteous.  We choose to dwell on the characteristics of God’s nature that are love, that provide for us and give us peace.  We like to remember that God loved us so much that He died for us, but choose to forget that His death was necessary because in His very nature He cannot overlook or wink at sin. 

God has not changed.  He no more ignores sin now than when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness or exiled Israel because of their unfaithfulness.  Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to the Holy Spirit, and Herod was struck and eaten by worms for not giving God the glory that he was receiving. 

We have a wonderful intimacy with God because of the work of Christ on the cross.  Let’s not cheapen it by taking sin lightly, and forgetting God’s opinion of our sin.  Remember to fear and obey God, because He is God.

Father God, forgive us for taking You lightly.  Forgive our casualness with sin.  Help us to live with a right regard of You.  Help us to be holy, as You are holy.