Who Are We, Not to Fear?

Psalms 76:6-9 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. You, Yourself, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, When God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah

Of all of God's creation, man is the most stubborn and rebellious of all. All the rest of creation is far more obedient to God; for even the demons and the devil himself fear God to some extent. Yes, even the devils. Stop and ponder this for a moment. When God set the boundaries in Job's life, and He gave Satan permission to persecute Job (Job 1 & 2), did Satan cross those boundaries? No, he did not. How did demons react to Jesus when they encountered Him in the Gospel accounts? They reacted with great fear and trembling (Mark 1:23-24). How about men, how do we respond to God? Well, let us recount for a moment. God destroyed every living creature, except for Noah and his family, with a flood because of man's rebellion and disobedience. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. Even after seeing all the plagues God poured out on Egypt, how did Pharaoh respond? He hardened his heart. The Bible tells us that even during the Tribulation Period, while God's wrath is being poured out on the earth, men will still rebel and shake their fists at God (Revelation 16:10-11)! How is it that we do not fear the God who can wipe us out in a second, and has proven it over the history of creation? A better question is, "How is it that we, who know Jesus as Savior and Lord, often show no fear of God?" Many of us would be offended by such a question, but the reality is that we show a lack of reverence and fear when we continue to sin the way we do; regardless of how great or small we think the sin is. The sad fact is that far too any of us take God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, for granted. Because we live in an age of grace, and God does not strike us dead right away, we respond with a lack of respect and honor. The God we worship is the God who can wipe out an army with its horses and chariots. Who are we to think, as individuals, that we can stand against the wrath of God when His anger is stirred, even for a moment? Let us come humbly before God with reverent fear, with repentance and confession, living a life that demonstrates the reverence He deserves.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).