The Fear of God

“The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night. The east wind carrieth him away,  and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.” Job 27:19-23 ” Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest,  and the flame of devouring fire.” Isaiah 29:6

Job describes the fate of those who depart who know not God while he in later verses remembers better days in his own life. These are the days of a younger Job, when God led him through darkness and the secret of God was upon his tabernacle. When the Almighty was yet with him, and his children were about him, and the rock poured out rivers of oil. These were the days when he went out to the gate through the city,  and when he prepared his seat in the street. The young men saw him and hid themselves and the aged rose and stood up. Job recalls his good works and the respect and reverence he enjoyed. Now he is judged by his friends and accused. He learns the painful lesson that we cannot put our trust in ourselves,  our reputations, or our works. Everything can be taken away, as it was given. Nothing in this life is exempt. Only in God can we put our trust. Only God is immutable and everlasting.  His righteousness endures forever. His justice is perfect.   Job however is discovering that public opinion changes and reputations are fleeting. This world is fickle and people turn on a dime. It’s all vanity, Solomon said. It’s all chasing after wind. In the end, only Jesus Christ matters and whether or not we believed on Him. Did we receive Him? This life is a vapor, we don’t have forever. One thing is for certain, we don’t fear God as we ought to. The lost soul, once dead realizes there is a God, and they must now give an account for their life. We are not in control of our own destiny in this life, as Job found out, or in the next one. God gives us a choice. We are given the power to choose in this life. What we are not given is the power to choose the consequences of our choice. For some, this awareness comes too late. For many, the first fear of God they ever experience is at the moment of death, and after death, when they have no power to choose anymore, nor free will and their lives are lost. They are taken, and they realize that their lives are subject  to God Almighty.  The God of creation to whom they never gave a second thought and never expected to meet is suddenly in control of their destiny. There is no escape when this day comes. The Bible uses vivid imagery, thunder, wind, an earthquake, a stormy tempest, and finally,  a devouring fire. The mystery about this life that many fail to consider is that we have freedom for a while to do as we please, or so we think. Yet God is watching, God is seemingly silent.  Or is He? He calls to us, woos us in this life. He teaches us through circumstance. He draws all men. Yet many ignore the lessons, and are deaf to the still small voice, the call. They are blind and won’t see. They stay blind until one day it is too late. They don’t know God, but they will meet Him soon.

Few people fear God in this life. When it’s too late, then they will fear Him but He can’t and won’t help them then. Job knows God, Job fears God. We would be wise to consider Job.

The plan of salvation is simple, recognize that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. Romans 3:23 states” for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. As a result of our sinfulness and the holiness of God, sin must be punished. Roman’s 6:23 says ” for the wages of sin is death. Revelation 20: 14-15 declares “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  ” But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ” Roman’s 5:8. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved. ” For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Today is the day of salvation. We won’t ever know if we have tomorrow.