Life Action

You know the feeling. You're cruising along on a hot summer day, listening to music, without a care in the world. Suddenly your heart skips a beat and you hit the brakes—a policeman is just ahead, watching you. Did I slow down in time? How fast was I going? Your fear of the law—and the awareness of an authority-results in an immediate change of behavior.

Despite the Bible's constant reminders not to be afraid, there is one fear it encourages time and again. There is one opinion we should care about, one concern that should weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. We are told in Ecclesiastes 12:13 that this single fear is intrinsic to our purpose in life.

We should fear God.

The fear of God is the constant awareness that I am in the presence of a just and holy God, and that every thought, word, action, and motive is being evaluated by Him. In other words, God's radar is always on. It is impossible to speed past His holy law without certain consequences.

Having traveled on Life Action's revival teams to scores of churches across North America, we can state with confidence that the fear of God is in short supply. The commentary of Romans 3:18 is true: "There is no fear of God before their eyes." People speak of God's peace, His mercy, His compassion, and even His righteousness. They sing about His love, study His grace, and savor His majesty. But they do not fear Him as the Bible commands.

If we are ever to experience genuine revival, it will be born out of a fresh sense of God's presence: healthy, reverent fear. To understand what's involved, let's break down the components of the definition:

God is always present.

In Jeremiah 23:24 (ESV), God asks, "Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? . . . Do I not fill heaven and earth?"

Remember how, as a teen, your behavior could turn on a dime when your parents came into the room? The fear of God works the same way. When we recognize that He is omnipresent—that He is everywhere—we might think twice about our decisions, our words, and our "secrets."

God is holy and just.

"Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11). "His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he" (Deut. 32:4).

God isn't just better than us. He is perfect, "majestic in holiness." He is the very foundation of what we call "justice." It is this God who is constantly watching; it is in the presence of this Judge that we stand every moment.

God evaluates every area of my life.

The next time you go shopping, glance above the checkout area. Chances are you'll see tinted balls—revolving cameras that are keeping a sharp, recording eye on everything you do. God's "camera" is also set to record what we do—and what we think, and what we say, and even our motivations.

Proverbs 5:21 (NASB) explains, "For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths." And God says in Jeremiah 16:17, "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes."

Perhaps most fearsome of all is a note written to the Hebrews: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Heb. 4:13 NIV).

Notice that the judgment mentioned is not merely in the future tense (the coming Day of Judgment); this evaluation of our lives is ongoing, happening in real time. The all-powerful Creator God is with you right now, He sees everything, and He is weighing you with perfect knowledge and perfect justice. Before you take your next breath, consider that He is near. Fear Him!

If we've been living our lives apart from God, without Christ, reverent fear should really be holy terror. Violators of God's law can expect the "judgment and . . . raging fire that will consume the enemies of God" (Heb. 10:27). The good news of the gospel is that Jesus makes righteousness possible for us—not by our own efforts but by His amazing grace. Those who trust His joyous salvation need not fear God's wrath!

For believers, the knowledge of what we have been saved from causes us to cling all the tighter to Christ. Reminders of God's swift and perfect justice bring us to our knees in gratitude for His undeserved grace. For us, the fear of the Lord is different; He is our Father. We are deeply respectful of His power and deeply concerned about His opinions, knowing that we have been saved from sin in order to live a holy life (2 Tim. 1:9).

Though God's love for us is vast, and His forgiving grace is unmeasured, He expects much from those who have been given much (Luke 12:48). Our lives are on full display before our Creator and Redeemer. He watches, and He knows. And one day we will be asked to account for the life He has entrusted to us (2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25).

Do you fear God? Do you know that He is with you now, that He sees your sins, your shortcomings, your secrets? Have you bowed to Christ for deliverance from God's wrath? Have you trusted Him fully for forgiveness and new life? And now, as His follower, do you feel your great responsibility to honor Him?



Trent Griffith and Dan Jarvis traveled together on a Life Action summit team. Trent now serves as senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Granger, Indiana. Dan pastors at Weymouth Church in Medina, Ohio, and serves as Managing Editor for Revive.

Results of Fearing the Lord

The book of Proverbs mentions a number of benefits for those who fear God, namely that fearing God is the “beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). It is also said to prolong our lives, keep us from evil, and lead us to life (Prov. 10:27; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4). The book of Psalms details the great spiritual and physical blessings promised to those who set their hearts to fear the Lord (Ps. 25:12-14; 31:19; 103:11; 145:19).

Practicing the Fear of God

• Choose to be aware of God's presence everywhere today.

• Tape "God is watching too" to your television set and computer screen.

• Speak to God in prayer about the situations you encounter as you encounter them.

• Meditate on Psalm 139.

• Rather than "What would Jesus do?" ask, "What is Jesus thinking about me right now?"