Ps. 130: 4- But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
Are we to fear the Lord? Why would forgiveness cause us to fear? Why would such a lovingly Heavenly Father want us to fear Him? Are we to walk around with trepidation and dread, trembling with fear when we think of our God? Yes and No. Over and over again in scripture when people came into contact with the presence of God, one of their responses was fear. When the mountain was ablaze with the might and power of God, He told Moses to bring the people close to Him and they were terrified. When John was on the island of Patmos and he saw the glorified Christ, he fell at His feet as a dead man. Jesus instructed him to "fear not". Psalms 103:14 tells us that "we are but dust" and mortal man within himself can not encounter the almighty, creator of all things and stand undaunted and unafraid in His holy presence.
Yet is that how God would wish us to view Him as we think about Him? Is this the persona that God would have us to present to the world? Again, yes and no. I believe that it is healthy and rational for us to have this understanding of God and to make clear to an unbelieving world that this Holy God will judge all things and that his power and might is beyond all reaches of our comprehension, and yet His compassion and mercy, His love and forgiveness is greater still. A hardened prisoner, condemned to death may not respond to the certainty of judgment and the dread of punishment and yet will no doubt be overcome with tears of gratitude with a unexpected and unmerited pardon.
Thomas Adams once said, "One would think that punishment should procure fear, and forgiveness love; but no man more truly loves God than he that is most fearful to offend him". Again he says, "We fear thee for thy justice, and love thee for thy mercy; yea, fear thee for thy mercy, and love thee for thy justice; for thou art infinitely good in both".
Robert Rollock is quoted as saying; This only is forcible to allure the sinner: for all the judgments of God, and curses of the law, will never allure him....Even so is it with the sinner; it is not terrors and threatenings that chiefly will move him to come to God, but the consideration of his manifold and great mercies.
Our fear of God should come to us as we realize the unbelievable truth that we are forgiven. Our fear should be that we may some how offend such a loving and generous God. Fear of not pleasing him, fear of not receiving His ultimate kindness, fear of the withdrawal of His presence. Fear of worldliness creeping into our lives. C.H. Spurgeon wrote: "None fear the Lord like those who have experienced his forgiving love. Gratitude for pardon produces far more fear and reverence of God than all the dread which is inspired by punishment." May we be overcome with fear as the forgiveness of God finds its way to us today.
1 Comments:
Great thoughts. I will be forever grateful to an Almighty God for His forgiveness in my live. I stand in awe of God.
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