Have You Been Shaken

The Bible says in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Question:  What does this verse mean to you?

Question:  How do you feel when you get caught speeding or in some other offense and have to go before a judge?

Years ago I think there was a certain amount of fear not knowing what the outcome would be.  There seemed to be much more respect then there seems to be today.  People took it much more seriously knowing that the judge had the final decision in what was going to be their fate.  I remember years ago having to go to court for various reasons and I was always a little scared and very nervous.  When I stood in front of the judge I was very respectful.  It wasn’t a time to take anything for granted or to be disrespectful in any way.  This judge held my fate in his hands and I knew it and I wasn’t about to do anything that would jeopardize or compromise my situation.  Another thing I think is different today is the dress code, so to speak, men wore suits and ties, sometimes men would shave their beards and go in the court room clean shaven trying to make themselves look better out of reverence and also respect.

Today reverence and respect seem to be foreign words replaced by self-esteem.  When you have too much self-esteem you can easily fall into pride and arrogance.  You become self-reliant needing no one else because you think you have all the answers and everyone should respect you and your ideas.  Then your head can get so puffed up that you look down on everyone else respecting no one.  A certain amount of self-esteem is good but there needs to be a balance in everything.  While kids are being dumbed down in school, one thing they do get bombarded with is self-esteem.  

A few of the things they should be learning in school, such as manners, reverence, respect for others, and many other things are not being taught.  They also need to be taught that getting ahead takes commitment and dedication and just plain hard work not just receiving handouts.  These things need to be taught in the home as well as in our schools.  When I was a young boy I had many chores I had to do like weeding a garden, which seemed like an acre to me at the time.  I also cut and stacked wood after throwing it down in the cellar.  I had to shovel coal, and also take the ashes out.  I was taught respect the hard way and I was also taught that I had to work hard to support myself.  Even in my freaky, drugging, and drinking days I respected my parents and other people and these things weren’t caught they were taught.

I said all this to say this; we have people coming into the church with these kinds of attitudes.  When we stand before the Lord someday, and we all will, there will be no excuses, no games, and no disrespect but there will be reverence and fear.  This will be the last judgment and the books will be open and there will be a holy hush.  A lot of people don’t want to hear about a vengeful God, no, they only want to hear of a God of love.  The Bible says in Hebrews 10:30, “For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” (NKJV)

I think about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, when they lied to Peter and the Holy Spirit they both fell down dead and it said in verse 11, “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”  God isn’t our ‘homey,’ no, He is the Creator of the universe and he needs to be reverenced and feared.  The fear of the Lord isn’t a bad thing, it is a good thing.  It will help you to resist sin.  There are many verses that talk about the fear of the Lord.  When people feared the Lord they repented of sin and lived godly lives.  The people that live sinful lives are those that have no fear or respect for Him.  

I have a few more verses I want to add here, they are in Ecclesiastes 12:10-14, “The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.  The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.  Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.  Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.  Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”  

So which one are you?  Something to think about, it is very important, it may make the difference of where you end up someday.  Have a great day and may God bless you.