The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:6-7
Fearing God is a lost theological concept in our current culture. With no fear of repercussion; people take the Lord's name in vain, discard the importance of God in society and dismiss the need for any real interaction with God. On the other extreme, some people will claim a relationship with God and express it as it were a casual purchase. From this perspective, what society thinks of God has become a product of social/politically driven doctrine.
Can we recklessly engage God? Let us consider a few basic Biblical examples of interacting with God that will provide us a starting point for this meditation.
We have:
An Image of Adam and Eve walking in the presence of God, but later being removed because of sin
An Image of OT Priest safely entering
into the presence of God after following the guidelines of sanctifying, yet another OT Priest falling dead in the presence of God because of unrepentant sin
An Image of Jesus gathering children around himself
An Image of Jesus gathering children around himself
An Image of an ill woman pressing against a crowd and connecting with the healing power of Christ
An Image of a warning from Paul to "work out your salvation in fear and trembling"
An Image of a warning from Christ "not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom"
An Image of the Disciples reclining with Jesus at the Last Supper....and Jesus washing their feet
An Image of the love and restoration of Christ demonstrated on the Cross
An Image of Jesus separating the wheat from the chaff in the Last Days
An Image of the love and restoration of Christ demonstrated on the Cross
An Image of Jesus separating the wheat from the chaff in the Last Days
Many will say “I believe in God and I’m good". For some this claim of God is very distant, as if they are looking at a mountain range from afar off. They believe in it but never move toward the mountain. They can discuss the mountain in great detail, write about it extensively, provide you a guide book for a journey to the top, but they have never touched the foundation. Their knowledge sounds extensive but it lacks the understanding and the experience of taking the first step onto the mountain.
Others will explain God carelessly or recklessly; as
if they have tamed a Lion. You hear them express their relationship with God like someone fearlessly engage a lion on their own
terms. They do not realize that they do
not engage the lion on their terms, but only engage the lion on
the lion’s terms.
In this proverb: "The Fear of the Lord is the beginning knowledge" frames a starting point of learning. The understanding comes from the written revelation, the depth of intellectual study, spiritual reflection and the illumination of truth that only comes from God. It also declares a warning at this starting point, "Fear God."
We may better understand this "Fear of God" if we consider a busy intersection. If you recklessly enter a busy intersection there is something to fear; but if you understand the rules of engagement you can safely enter and not fear the intersection. I do not live with fear every time I come into an intersection; however, I also do not just rush through on my own developed traffic rules. I understand the risk of crossing a double yellow line in a blind curve. I understand the risk of not reducing my speed on exit ramps. I understand the risk of not honoring a yield sign. When I follow the guidelines, it removes the fear and enables me to travel safely to my destination.
What does "Fear the Lord" look like in your life?
I pray you stay strong and straight in your journey with the Lord!
