FEAR OF THE LORD
INTRODUCTION
Fear of the Lord is becoming increasingly overlooked by an ungodly environment that is being formulated by what has been foretold in God’s Word; calling evil good and good evil; putting darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight (Isaiah 5:20-21); which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him (Isaiah 5:23).
Along with this came a warning: As the fire (tongue of fire) devours the stubble; and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as the dust, because they have cast away the law of the Lord and despised the Word of the Holy One (God) (Isaiah 5:24).
Fear of the Lord
Growth of Ungodliness
There is a growth of ungodliness that has festered and is increasing on a daily basis; reflecting a lack of a fear of the Lord, as in the pre-Flood days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Babylon the hold of every foul spirit, all of which God dealt with in judgment and destruction. The Prophet Isaiah foretold of justifying the wicked and taking away the righteousness from him (previously mentioned); which flourishes with an ungodly environment that promotes wickedness and seeks to undermine the righteousness of man.
There is a lack of promulgation of the truth of God’s Word with appeasement and tolerance rather than condemning the sinful nature of man. There is a progressive social gospel, a “feel-good religion” rather than strict adherence to the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God without compromise. There is a flotation of words that simple tickle the ear rather than conviction of the soul. There is a consummation of ungodliness that is being proudly declared as acceptable; yet is condemned in God’s Word.
Will Not Endure Sound
Doctrine
Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, a young evangelist: Preach the word, be instant (ready) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (teaching); but after their own lusts (desires) shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears (hearing) from the truth, and shall be turned into fables (that which is fictitious). Watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry (2 Timothy 4:2-5).
A legendary evangelist of the First Great Awakening, Charles G. Finney, noted that preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours to a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it, if the church is degenerate and worldly, if Satan rules in our halls of Justice, if our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact; but let us lay it to heart, and awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.
Separation Rather Than
Endorsement
Apostle Paul wrote: Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion has light with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14)? Paul further wrote: Come out from among them, and be you separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17).
There is a separation from the world, at the moment of conversion, as Paul revealed: If any man be in Christ (born-again in Christ), he is a new creature (creation); old things are passed away, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). It was noted that when a man comes in union with the risen and glorified Lord (Jesus Christ) he perceives Him in a new way; old things are passed away indicates a decisive break with the old life (pre-conversion life) at the moment of receiving Christ into one’s life.
Lives Without Change
When lives are without change; feeling comfortable in one’s present relationship, without a lasting commitment to Christ, and no fear of the Lord to stem the tide of one’s former life, it may be questionable as to a genuine conversion in Christ. As previously noted there is a progressive social gospel that fails to recognize the need for sanctification, righteousness, and holiness condoning sin rather than condemning it.
Apostle Paul wrote: Put off the former conversation (conduct) of the old man (pre-conversion life) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; that you put on the new man (at the moment of conversion), which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Paul identified some of the characterizes of one’s pre-conversion life: Let him that stole steal no more; let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good for the use of edifying; let all bitterness, and wrath, anger, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice (Ephesians 4:26-32).
New Direction
The Apostle John wrote: He that says he abides in him (Christ) ought himself also to walk even as he walked (1 John 2:6). John noted a separation call from a worldly nature that previously existed, in writing: Love not the world (the evil desire and sin so much part of the world). If any man loves the world the love of the Father (God) is not in him (1 John 2:15).
World signifies the evil desire and sin so much a part of human existence. It was noted that love not the world is a command implying that such now in progress must cease. The sense of pledging personal loyalty and devotion of one’s whole being means, to love God first and foremost.
Future Judgment
Apostle Peter wrote of a future judgment of the ungodliness of man: Whereby the world that then was (pre-Flood days of Noah), being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth, which are now (our present day), by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against (until) the Day of Judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:6-7).
To the believer in Christ, Peter wrote: Nevertheless we, according to his (God’s) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness; wherefore seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless (2 Peter 3:13-14). Beware lest you (the believer), being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18).
Lack of Fear of the
Lord
Scripture reveals: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). On the other side of the coin, it was noted, that where there is no fear of God, no reverence for God; every evil can and will abound. The idea that we humans will be good without God is a deceptive fallacy. When people are devoid of the knowledge and wisdom that come from believing God and having reverence for Him, they become morally corrupt, exceedingly evil, violent and destructive.
The most dangerous society is one in which people have no sense of accountability to God, and no fear of the Lord. Those words reflect what is happening at a time when the fear of the Lord is most needed by a society that is seeking its own pleasure and lifestyle, without regard to the Judgment of God.
Day of Accountability
Scripture reveals the words of the Lord spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah: O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved, How long shall your vain (wicked) thoughts lodge with you (Jeremiah 4:14)? It was noted that such thinking today can arise from many sources: Absorbing immoral movies and television; carelessly surfing the Internet; listening to malicious talk; ignoring the Word of God; giving into a materialistic worldview.
Will we allow the sanctifying Scriptures and the purifying blood of Christ to cleanse our heart and mind or will we persist in sin-filled thinking and experience God's judgment? A day of accountability is coming, Apostle Paul wrote: It is appointed to men once to die but after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We can accept the work of redemption Christ accomplished for us (on the cross of Calvary) and have our sins forgiven and welcomed to a home in heaven, or stand before God in the Day of Judgment and be sentenced to eternal separation from God.
Great Tribulation
Jesus spoke of what is yet to come: There shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21). Apostle John noted the terror of such a time: The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, hid themselves in the dens (caves) and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne; and from his wrath; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand (Revelation 6:15-17)?
Jude wrote: The Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all and to convince (convict) all that are ungodly among them of all the ungodly deeds which they have committed, and all their hard (harsh) speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him (Jude 1:14-15). The great day of God’s wrath is referred to as the Day of the Lord, a time of judgment unleashed on the earth and its inhabitants.
God's Love Toward
Mankind
God’s love toward mankind, is spelled out, as well as His judgment, Scripture reveals: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that whosoever believes 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.
This is the condemnation, that light (the Lord Jesus Christ) is come into the world, and men loved darkness (ungodly lifestyles) rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:16-19). Apostle John wrote: He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (John 3:36).
Apostle Paul wrote: Being made free from sin (through repentance and acceptance of Jesus into one’s heart and life), we become the servants (dedicated) to God, and have our fruit (witness) unto holiness, and the end everlasting life (a heavenly abode). For the wages of sin is death (Hell versus Heaven); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (a heavenly reward) (Romans 6:22-23).
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