What comes to mind when you think of fear?

Fear plays an important function in our lives.  Fear is actually a healthy, normal and necessary emotional response.  A healthy amount of fear keeps us safe and away from danger.  One should have a healthy fear of fire for instance.  One should have a healthy fear of swimming in open water with great white sharks, I think you get my point.  But we can have unhealthy fears too, fears that create an intense irrational fear, these are called phobias.  Phobias span the alphabet, from Ablutophobia (fear of bathing) to Zuigerphobia (fear of vacuum cleaners).  There is the fear of flying, the fear of heights, the fear of crowded spaces, the fear of public speaking, you name it, someone has a fear of it.

The slogan “No Fear” was created by and for extreme sports enthusiasts, such as base jumping, mountain climbing, motocross, etc.,,, - “any sport which involves a high degree of risk in which the participant accepts the possibility of severe injury or death as an inherent part of the activity.”

The slogan was used to motivate the participant to accept “no limits” - to push past their fear.  The bible actually has a lot to say about fear.  Proverbs says that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:7)  Solomon, the wisest, richest, most influential king in Israel’s history said “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter (life): ‘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)   I think we have lost a healthy fear of God, in our Nation and the church at large.  What is the fear of the Lord?  It is a healthy respect and reverence for God stemming from the knowledge of God and resulting in obedience to God - it is an attitude (respect and reverence) that results in an action (obedience).

With obedience comes God’s blessings.  Psalm 128 says “Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.”  No fear?  Yes, the bible says “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)  This “no fear” stems from a healthy, biblical fear of God - which is life’s greatest gain!

Fear of the LORD - do you have it?!

Pastor Rodney