The statement "No Fear" has a greater significance than I ever, ever would've imagined!
I've written about fear of God, and man not fearing God, many times. But this morning its significance is much closer to home. The lack of fear of God causes man to rebel against His laws. We are seeing an ever increasing amount of crimes in the young and in the old and it is all because of no fear of reprisal
Adolescents do not fear their parents; their parents do not fear the law; the elderly fear everything; and no one fears God.
We are a hardhearted; stiff-necked; rebellious people who think we can do it ourselves - that we know best; that nothing is going to happen so we break the law every day. If we're not breaking the law of the land, we are breaking God's law. We hold onto unforgiveness - we hold on to anger - we have no shame about fear or worry although they are sin - we walk according to the traditions of men and we give lip service to the love of God.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 KJV
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV
When I was a young teenager I fell in with a friend who back-talked her mother all the time. The first time I heard her, I was embarrassed at the way she spoke to her mom. But as the Bible says "bad company ruins good morals". Next thing I knew I was back-talking my mother; I developed a real smart mouth. One day, I sassed my mom and she hauled off and smacked me - right in the face. I was stunned but, I knew I deserved it! I quickly apologized and swore I would never do it again. I didn't change friends, however, and continued to hang around that girl. The next thing I knew, out of my mouth came another smart alecky remark. My mother raised her hand to hit me again, and I caught it with both of my hands, and remorsefully apologized again and again; swearing I would never do it again and I did not. I knew what I was going to get. I knew it was wrong. And I knew I didn't want to feel that again. So I changed my ways and friends.
Feeling the pain of the punishment, and the threat of future punishment, impacted me. I also knew then, that my mother was as good as her word. I knew when she said “don't do it,” I'd better not do it.
God has great mercy and gives grace, but His judgments are sure and you can "take it to the bank" that what you sow, you will reap; either in this life or the next.
We believe, because we do not see and feel the punishment immediately, (in most cases) that He forgets. Or that He's gonna let it slide. Or maybe He's just forgotten. Or maybe we don't believe in God or that He will do what He says. Maybe we are like rebellious children who know that our parents give idle threats. That they are not going to follow through. Maybe our kids see us sin against God and realize we don't respect Him or fear Him, so why should they respect or fear us.
From the grandparents, to the parents, to the children on down, we are a lawless society who have no fear of anything. But yet we crave fear. When our adrenaline gets stimulated, from faux fear and nothing happens to us, it reinforces the knowledge and feelings in our minds that nothing is going to happen. But God will not be mocked and we will reap what we sow; we will pay.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7 KJV
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 KJV
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 KJV
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28 KJV
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 1/27/15
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