Fear of the Lord

My morning meditation with A.W. Tozer on the "Transcendence of God", brought out an interesting quote:  "When the Psalmist saw the transgression of the wicked his heart told him how it could be. "There is no fear of God before his eyes," he explained, and in so saying revealed to us the psychology of sin. When men no longer fear God, they transgress His laws without hesitation.  The fear of consequences is no deterrent when the fear of God is gone."

I think that one of the by-products of our modern church movement of hyper-grace theology has been the loss of the fear of God.... That once I am in the fold of God I need only fear the loss of blessings.  I believe that we have "graced away" the holiness of God, that he is coming back for a bride without blemishes.  That all of the warnings for us from Christ in John 15, we explain away all of the "if's" that he told his Apostles, the warnings from Paul of the lessons of the Israelites, "The Elect of God", the warnings of if you think you are standing firm.... and have reduced them away in Grace as if they need not apply to me as a new covenant believer.

If we want to see the power of Christ manifest in our churches, divorce, abortion, addictions, the worldliness, selfishness, and faithlessness removed with fear and trembling...... we must restore the "fear of the Lord" for it is the wellspring of life.  The wages of sin is death... is a law that is in effect regardless of whether you are a believer or unbeliever.  My hope ..... is that I have a Savior who is faithful and just and will cover my sin when I repent and turn to him!  "Fear of the Lord", is the first step to obedience to the Lord...the by-product of that.......a life secure in the holiness of God and a power of restoration that can only be from Him!