In the fear of the Lord there is strong
confidence, and His children will have refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the
snares of death.
confidence, and His children will have refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the
snares of death.
Proverbs 14:26, 27
I’m standing at the bottom of the rabbit hole. The door has a sign on it, inviting me into a
land of wonder. I want what it offers:
strong confidence, security, freedom from fear, joy, satisfaction, contentment,
merriment, wisdom to escape the traps the enemy sets out for me, and, best of
all, sweet intimacy with my Savior. With
everything in me, I want to walk through that door. The key sits on the table in the center of the
room. The very thing I need to unlock
the door is on the table… The tag on the
key reads: fear of the Lord.
land of wonder. I want what it offers:
strong confidence, security, freedom from fear, joy, satisfaction, contentment,
merriment, wisdom to escape the traps the enemy sets out for me, and, best of
all, sweet intimacy with my Savior. With
everything in me, I want to walk through that door. The key sits on the table in the center of the
room. The very thing I need to unlock
the door is on the table… The tag on the
key reads: fear of the Lord.
What does that really mean (fear)? I think of the words C.S. Lewis used as he
closes out the first Narnia book regarding Aslan (the Jesus figure of the
Narnia series). “He is not safe, but He
is good.” Fear is a two-sided coin:
closes out the first Narnia book regarding Aslan (the Jesus figure of the
Narnia series). “He is not safe, but He
is good.” Fear is a two-sided coin:
Side 1: true comprehension of God’s goodness, his
love, his faithfulness, grace, mercy, kindness, long-suffering – the nurturing side of God.
love, his faithfulness, grace, mercy, kindness, long-suffering – the nurturing side of God.
Side 2: full understanding and awareness of God’s
righteousness, his justice, purity – the
holiness of God.
righteousness, his justice, purity – the
holiness of God.
Fully seeing, knowing, and
believing God puts everything else
into a correct perspective. Of this I am
certain: My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there’s nothing my God
cannot do!
believing God puts everything else
into a correct perspective. Of this I am
certain: My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there’s nothing my God
cannot do!
This, then, is fear – BELIEVING God is who he says
he is (truly seeing him with the eyes of our heart), and responding in the one
and only appropriate way – in reverent
worship. This is the key that turns
the lock in the door. This is the way to
enter into the adventures of Wonderland!
he is (truly seeing him with the eyes of our heart), and responding in the one
and only appropriate way – in reverent
worship. This is the key that turns
the lock in the door. This is the way to
enter into the adventures of Wonderland!
But…there’s a problem!