DO NOT BE AFRAID PART 3

For the last couple of weeks, we have been discussing some things of which we should not be afraid. Today, we will conclude these thoughts with two things which we should fear: sin and God.

Sin is to be feared by every man, woman, and child. Sin the transgression of God’s law and includes every kind of moral and religious disobedience. As we watch television and movies and listen to music, sin is often glamorized and portrayed as a way to make life pleasant. Really? How pleasant do you think Tiger Woods’ life is right now? His sinful lifestyle has made his life anything but pleasant, and that says nothing about what it is doing to his wife and children. He probably thought no one would ever know, but “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

That is just the physical, social side of the effects of sin. What about the spiritual? “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Sin causes us to be separated from God and incurs His wrath. “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:30-31). Yes, sin destroys careers, families, and lives. However, it also destroys souls. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus said, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.5 “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5). What men might do to us is limited to our existence in this body. God’s power goes beyond the grave into eternity.

We do not fear God in the sense of being afraid of unfair treatment or injustice. We fear God in that we live in awe of His greatness, we respect Him, we believe Him, and we obey Him. The decisions we make in life should be governed by a fear of the Lord. While we do not fear God in the sense of injustice, we should fear His wrath against sin and what will happen to us if that sin remains unforgiven. We need to understand that God’s response to us is determined by the choices we make. “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22).

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
--Lamar