Freedom in Fear or Lessons From "The Fly"

It occurred to me that my thoughts on fear were actually incomplete. For I was reminded that the way to real freedom is through fear. Fear is the foundation to such things as wisdom, knowledge, loyalty, faithfulness, understanding, praise, riches, honor, and life. These are  just a few of the benefits of fear that we find in God's Holy Word. The key is where your fear resides. These treasures, and many more, are founded in the fear of the Lord. The question then arises, "What does it mean to fear the Lord?" What does God require of those who fear Him? Is this some terrifying thing or just some sort of mutual respect that we have with our Heavenly Father? How does fear fit with that "Abba Father" thing the Apostle Paul speaks of? It seems there is more to fear than just our phobias.  

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." So says Proverbs 1:7. The Hebrew word is yira. It means terror, fear, an awesome or terrifying thing. It carries the nuance of reverence and respect, but there is no denying the aspect of real fear. There are a number of words in Hebrew translated fear, such as pachad, which carries more of the idea of dread. "And the fear of the LORD fell on all the nations of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat" (2 Chron. 17:10, emphasis mine). However, even here it should be noted that it still comes down to the idea of being afraid. Having a very real fear of YAHWEH. 

In our evangelical communities we emphasize the remarkable grace of God and His mercy. These are vital to our survival. The message of grace permeates God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. But actual fear of God is also there from beginning to end. Remember, Hebrews 10:31 is in the Bible: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." So is God the God of grace we can call Abba, or is He the God to be feared who strikes terror in the hearts of mankind?

Let us get a little practical here. If you really fear someone you will do what they tell you to do. You do not want to displease them. Now if they give you clear instructions and directions in writing as to how you are to behave, then all you have to do is obey and the fear is reduced. And if you know that rule book never changes, you then know precisely how to live. There is actual freedom in the boundaries. Beyond this, the powerful one you fear provides everything you need from the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social realms of life. That would give you a sense of appreciation. Maybe even love. Living without boundaries and having no idea what to do an any situation is really a pretty fearful way to live. 

The healthy fear of God should drive us to want to know what He desires of us. We do this by the study of His Word. In so doing we become wise, discerning, acquire knowledge and understanding. We learn of how His love, mercy and grace are poured out on those who fear Him. Solomon was wise enough to know that the fear of the LORD truly is foundational to to all God has for us. In our Western and American frame of mind we see discontinuity where God sees integrated truth. Fear, love, grace and mercy are not separate categories of God's relationship with us. He desires the best for us. However, He is still God. He is awesome, almighty, holy and never to be taken lightly. 

It may well be that we have things out of balance. Our light approach and lack of the fear of the Lord allows us to excuse our lack of study, our lack of obedience, and our lack of commitment. We just rest in His amazing grace and presume that God really does not care. In so doing we rob ourselves of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Just look at the stupidly absurd choices the world makes where we have lost the understanding of male and female. There is no fear of God. There is no knowledge. There is no understanding. We do not want to follow the world's example. We need the fear of the Lord if we are to know His wisdom and have His understanding.

We need to rest in God's amazing grace. We need the comfort of His mercy. We need to learn of the depth of His love and compassion. However we can not know these outside of His Word. We cannot know these without an understanding of the fear of the God. If not, then Solomon was incorrect. Maybe, Jeff Goldblum (as Seth Brundle) in the 1986 version of "The Fly" had it right: "Be afraid, be very afraid". God says it is the beginning of knowledge, and only a fool rejects the fear of the Almighty. Are you afraid yet?

Jesus, the God of Wrath and Anger

The writer to the Hebrews tells us, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). So are you afraid? Do you tremble before the holy and just God? Just who is this God we are to fear? Let us take a look at what the Scriptures have to say. 

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10). Revelation 6:16, "and [they] said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!". David warns, "Kiss the Son lest He be angry and you perish in the way. When His wrath is kindled but a little" (Psalm 2:12). Matthew 13:41 - 42, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Actually, there are seven New Testament Jesus quotes about wailing and teeth gnashing. According to John 5:27, authority to execute judgement has been given to Yeshua, Jesus, because He is the Son of Man. It seems the God of wrath, anger, and Judgment is the Lord Jesus.

Let us compare Him with the God of the Old Testament. Psalm 136:12 says we are delivered, "With a strong hand, and with an outstretch arm, For His mercy endures forever". In fact Jeremiah proclaims the Old Testament God's mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23), great is His faithfulness. In case you missed it, Psalm 136 tells us twenty-six times that God's lovingkindness is everlasting. "God of our salvation" pops up 114 times in the Old Testament compared to 42 in the New. The God of the Old Testament shows mercy and compassion. He offers deliverance and salvation. He is a God of grace who extended that grace to Noah. He forgave David even after the sins of adultery and murder. He is slow to anger and full of compassion. We should be grateful for the tender and loving God of the Old Testament and fear the New Testament Jesus who would cast someone into outer darkness for wearing the wrong wedding cloths and might even cast out those who did great things in His name.  Very scary God, this Jesus, Son of Man.

What is my point? I get tired of the supposed contrast of the Old Testament God of wrath and judgment and the tender Jesus of the New. As Americans and those of Western/Greek thought, we divide and subdivide everything. We compartmentalize and make proclamations that fit our preconceived world view. It seems many determine that the Old Testament is barely valid and out of date. I see signs and advertisements declaring that this group gathering is a "New Testament" church. As if the Old Testament has nothing to do with faith and life today. Do they ever consider how gutted their New Testament Scriptures would be if they removed every Old Testament reference? Is it possible we really only have one revelation from God? One book that is about the One true God? You know, the One Jesus who said He was One with the Father. Pastors, teachers, theologians along with so many believers make it known that we believe that God is three in one. But the emphasis is on the "three" not the "One". Father, Son and Spirit each with His own purpose and responsibility. Check out any Bible College or seminary where you study Theology (God the Father), Christology (God the Son), and Pneumatology (God the Spirit), but not God the "One". They don't need to. After all, they have God all figured out and compartmentalized. Yet, if we are honest, the distinctions we see in Scripture are more like a chalk drawing in the rain. No clear edges and lots of blurry lines in the "one" picture. God is a God of compassion, mercy, love, deliverance and salvation. He is also the God of anger, justice, judgment, and wrath. You can find verses about all "three" involved in all aspects of these realities. Maybe you need to make your God box without all those compartments. Just One big compartment. On second thought, never mind. Even if He is only "One" He will never fit into any box you make anyway. Though, I have to admit, like most people, I occasionally try to make Him fit into my own personal "God box". How about you?