As I heard the thunder shake and rattle our house yesterday evening while I was hanging out with my little girl, I was reminded to have a holy fear of the Lord. But what does it mean to have a holy fear of the Lord?
It seems like today we’ve not only lost our sense of respect for others but for the One who created us as well. Like we can get away with anything and say sorry later. Like we can make dumb choices and not have to reap consequences because of His grace and mercy.
It really feels like we tend to take advantage of His grace and misuse it at times, or is that just me? Is it also just me who thinks we’ve lost our ability to have a healthy, holy fear of the One who created us?
So why should we fear Him?
Not because He’s a mean God looking to pour out His wrath on us but because He is the Lord. He created the heavens and the earth, He created you and I, and everything in the earth. He can control the thunder with the snap of a finger sending my house rattling all over.
Did you know that everything in our ecosystem has to be in perfect balance to operate and function properly. If anything gets out of wack, it negatively affects everything. Same thing with other bodies, we’re basically walking miracles that we as humans can barely understand. I studied the human body for 4 years only to learn we don’t know hardly anything about it, we’ve only scratched the surface. Yet there is this God, who I call Lord, who even cares for the lilies of the fields that are here today and gone tomorrow.
“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”
Matthew 6:28-30
What is a holy fear of the Lord?
I believe having a holy fear of the Lord means having complete and total reverence for Him. If we truly understand who God really is, we would naturally have a holy fear of Him.
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
Who is God?
If we took a deep dive into who God really is, focusing on just this aspect, below are some characteristics we would find about Him!
- Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
- Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Shall Provide (Genesis 22:13-14)
- Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Who Heals (Exodus 15:22-26)
- Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner (Exodus 17:15)
- Jehovah-M’Kaddesh: The Lord Who Sanctifies (Leviticus 20:7-8)
- Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Who Is Peace (Judges 6:24)
- Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord Who Is Righteous (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
- Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord Who Is There (Ezekiel 48:35)
- Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)
- Creator of All Things (Colossians 1:16)
- Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13)
- Savior (Luke 2:11)
- Redeemer (Job 19:25)
- Light of the World (John 8:12)
- Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Have you heard of the 3 omni words that describe God as well? He is omnipresent (all-present), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omniscient (all-knowing).
He is also not only our judge but our defender. God is love, God is compassion, God is hope. I’ve found all of these definitions of Him to be true in my life but He is so much more to me than what all I’ve explained so far. God is everything to me!
Having a healthy respect, reverence, and holy fear of Him doesn’t have to mean being scared of Him. Christians and non-Christians alike have heard that He will judge us and we will live eternally in hell or in heaven with Him and it’s true, the Bible makes it very clear.
The validity of the Bible
I’ve heard this argument and I’ve wondered myself about the validity of the Bible as it has been passed down orally and written across several generations. After all, people are imperfect people so how can the Bible be an accurate and Holy Spirit inspired and still ring true today?
The only problem with this doubt is that there is not only too much coincidence that the Bible doesn’t contradict itself but only verifies itself referencing to previous books and scripture but also that there is actual evidence in our history that proves events listed really happened.
Yet we have to also come to terms with the fact that to doubt the validity of the Bible also means we have to doubt how powerful God is. You really think the Creator of the Universe can’t empower people throughout the years to remember accurately and to tell of His truths?
We also have to consider that when we read the Bible, is it “alive and active” speaking something meaningful to me in my current circumstances? If it wasn’t really “Holy Spirit inspired”, then how could it be speaking directly to you in your specific situation in a very personal way?
I feel like I’ve gotten off on a rabbit trail so let’s circle back… lol.
Having a holy fear of the Lord
As Christians, we don’t have to run scared of Him or fear His judgment anymore but instead we have a holy fear of Him. We don’t fear Him but we have a holy fear of Him. Are you following me?
As Christians, we know we have the blessed assurance, as we have accepted Him and truly put Him on the throne of our heart and life. We also come to know Him to be more loving and Father like than we first realized. With life experience, we become more intimately acquainted with Him as we rely on Him as our source of strength, peace, encouragement, provision, protection, and blessing.
As I grow to know Him more intimately, I feel more comfortable with Him but I also have developed a holy fear of living outside of His presence. I’ve tried living without Him before and it was not only very lonely but it was a scary place to be outside of His protection and provision. Not because He was necessarily punishing me but I was feeling that because that’s how life was without Him.
Personally, I’ve also come to know the Lord as gentle. He deals with me very gently because He knows what a sensitive soul I am even though I can portray a tough exterior lol! I’ve also had to live with the consequences of my stupidity that the Lord allowed me to go through so that I learned from my mistakes showing His tough (yet still) love.
It’s so fascinating how God knows who we really are deep down and knows the best ways to pursue and help us. 1 Samuel 16:7 says this, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I hope and pray that you know God to be your guiding light in everything you do and that you come to know Him in the ways mentioned above and even more! Also know that having a holy fear of Him (a reverence or respect for who He is) is not a bad thing, it’s actually pretty healthy.
A Prayer For You
Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times I have not had a healthy view and holy fear of God. Reveal to me who God really is and draw me closer in relationship to Him. Help me to reflect His light and love with everything I say and do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Stay hopeful!
