Fear God

Theophobia is defined as an inexplicable fear of deities or even religion in general. Symptoms include avoiding any and all worship services. But this cannot be the meaning of today’s verse. How can a person “worship” God if he or she wants nothing to do with Him?

According to the Bible, fearing God does not mean being afraid of God or disliking God. Rather, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10). The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, learned this one truth at the end of his life: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). So, the whole purpose of man’s existence is to fear God, which results in obeying—or, in actuality, worshiping—Him.

Furthermore, “the fear of the LORD is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). The Bible instructs those who “hate evil” to also “love good” (Amos 5:15). It is God who is good: “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18); “good and upright is the LORD” (Psalm 25:8). In essence, then, fearing God is equated to loving God. Indeed, Jesus clarified, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Fearing God and loving God end in the same outcome: obedience.

When God called Abraham to and then prevented Abraham from sacrificing his son, Isaac, He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22:12). When you love God, you are willing to obey Him no matter the cost, just like the 144,000 at the end of time.

Immediately after He spared Isaac, God provided a ram for the sacrifice (vv. 13, 14). That ram symbolized our Substitute Jesus Christ, who, two millennia later, willingly sacrificed Himself for the salvation of the whole world. So, fearing God ultimately results in your salvation.

My Redeemer, help me to fear, to reverence, to love who You are and what You are doing for and in my life.

For Further Study: Psalm 34:4, 7; Malachi 3:16; Luke 23:40–43

Key Bible Texts

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (Revelation 14:6 KJV)