Fear of God

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. [Proverbs 9.10]

People do not fear God because they do not know God. And, because they do not fear God, people do not repent.

The more a person knows God, the more that person will repent. Why? Because knowledge of God leads to fear of God and genuine fear of God leads to repentance!

Why fear God? Because He holds the power of eternity. God said the disobedient would suffer curses and the obedient would enjoy blessings. He set up a plan for Redemption from the beginning of time so that even those fallen guilty of disobedience might find Redemption. But that Redemption is His alone to give or withhold. In fact, He only gives His Redemption to Himself!

That's right, God's Redemption is only for Himself. So, He put a piece of Himself in every created human being. God gave every man "the measure of faith." So then, everyone should be saved, right? Not so fast...

The measure of faith (that God-likeness) lying deep within the heart of every man is only activated by repentance. And, repentance is not genuinely activated until one recognizes that God is indeed God and is alone in control of everything (sovereign). This is humility.

It is the work of God's Holy Spirit that opens the eyes of man to see God's sovereignty and therefore draws man to repentance.

The only thing standing between God and man then is pride. Pride is a refusal to acknowledge God as God. Pride prevents a man from following the leading of the Holy Spirit to know and therefore fear God and then to naturally repent.

It is no wonder then that the Bible is clear about God's attitude toward the pride of man. He hates it.

Father, help us to know You, fear You, repent, and be restored.