“Let us hear THE CONCLUSION of the whole matter: FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, for this is the WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Eccl. 12:13-14) If we’re going to be anxious about one thing, let’s be anxious TO KEEP God’s commandments. If we’re going to fear something–let’s FEAR GOD for “The 1FEAR of the LORD is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10) 1yârê’: to be afraid, stand in awe, fear. The Bible speaks of this approximately 330 times, showing it’s great importance. Let’s look at this “afraid” part first.
“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, THEY TREMBLED and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that HIS FEAR MAY BE BEFORE YOU, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN.” (Exo. 20:18-20) This happened so we would, “…have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and GODLY FEAR. For our God is a CONSUMING FIRE.” (Heb. 12:28-29) The Lord said He did this so we WOULD NOT SIN because He knows “…the wages of sin is 1DEATH…” (Rom. 6:23) 1thánatos: The separation of the soul and the body, then the soul is CAST into the lake of fires that burns forever.
Thank God that: “…the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) and then we can “Repent (change our mind) and be converted (turn away from our sins and turn to God), that our sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ (to live in our life), who was preached to us before…” (Acts 3:19-21) Then finally Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I WILL COME IN…” (Rev. 3:20)
-Bill Stockham