GOD,
FEAR OF

THE REVERENCE and fear of God is the starting place for wisdom. If a driver is going 80 mph and notices a police car parked up ahead on the side of the road, they will slow down. In fact, a whole series of things goes into motion. First the driver’s heart starts beating a little more heavily. His brain tells his leg to get off of the accelerator and ease down on the brake, being careful not to slam on it. His eyes look down at the speedometer to ensure the speed is shifting to lower and then they move to the rearview mirror to see if he has been caught or not.

The policeman’s presence has produced a healthy respect for the law. When an officer is present, drivers adjust to the law because of respect for the officer’s authority. A driver may not like his authority, may not want his authority, or might even be rebellious against his authority—but he still respects it.

What would most people think about a person who speeds up to 90 mph when they see a policeman? They would call him a fool. Why? Because that driver is showing no reverence for the law.

Many Christians live their lives according to their own set of laws because they do not respect God or acknowledge His rule over every area of their lives. Just as a driver should fear the authority of a police officer whether they see him or not, a Christian shows true fear of God by how they acknowledge His authority. Truly fearing God means that God is the reference point wherever the Christian goes or whatever they are involved in.360

[God, Authority of; Jesus, Authority of; Self-Sufficiency, Sin of]

Deut. 6:13; Ps. 111:10; Isa. 8:13

THE FEAR of God is two-sided. One side has to do with awe or reverence. The other has to do with being dreaded. This is similar to the dual role parents have with their children. Not only do they wish for their children to respect them, but they also want their children to know that their improper behavior could invoke discipline.361

Isa. 8:13; 1 Peter 1:17–18

THE OLD belief, centuries ago, was that the sun revolved around the earth. As we now know, this belief was wrong. The earth revolves around the sun. Many of us have got it wrong in our spiritual lives. God doesn’t revolve around us. We revolve around Him. We know that we fear God when we have made Him the centerpiece of our lives.362

[Jesus Christ, Centrality of; Self-Sufficiency, Sin of]

Ps. 118:22; Matt. 21:42

WHAT IF the president told you he was coming to your house? What if he chose your house above all the other homes in the community to come and visit? What if he told you that he wanted to come and have dinner with you? Everything would change. Your cleaning habits would change. Your schedule would change. What you do with your kids would change. Everything would change, because somebody great was coming your way. We will change for a man what we won’t change for God.363

[God’s Glory]

Ex. 3:5; Acts 7:33

ELECTRICITY is good. We’re warm because of electricity. We cook because of electricity. We freeze food because of electricity. Lights come on because of electricity. Electricity is a good thing. However, I would not advise you to take a screwdriver and stick it in an outlet!

You don’t want to do that because the same electricity that can help you can also fry you. The same electricity that can illumine you can make your hair pop out. In other words, electricity, while being helpful, must be handled properly or else the help it is designed to give winds up hurting. The hurt won’t be intentional. It will happen because you are not handling it right.

God wants to show you your destiny. He wants to guide and govern your life, but He’s got to be handled right. That’s why He says, Fear Me.364

[God, Power of; Power, Accessing]

Ex. 19:12; Heb. 12:18–21