Fear and Fear Not
We live in a very disrespectful society. Most people are keenly aware of this. Entertainers, especially, hold nothing as sacred, nothing is off limits. But it certainly isn’t limited to entertainers; news personalities, politicians, athletes, teachers, parents and even pastors have been publicly disrespectful of all manner of things, including God’s creation (man, woman, family), what God has blessed (marriage) and God Himself. God is not feared. His Name is profaned in song, on television, in the work place and business places, on clothing and in most homes. Even Christians have become desensitized to the lack of fear of God and have profane entertainment in their homes and think nothing of it. A group of students at a Bible College struggled when asked to give up R-rated movies for the 40 days of Lent! This is a long way from a church that started in a society that held God’s Name in such high esteem that they would not even speak or write the word.
Jesus showed us a compassionate, kind and generous God, a God so comfortable John the Beloved could recline on Him after dinner in the upper room.1 But when John saw this same Jesus in Revelation, he fell down in terror.2 Jesus is kind and loving and gentle, but He is also holy beyond our grasp of holy, to be revered and honored. It is easy to begin to think that the same Jesus who meets us each morning for our devotions over coffee is like a casual coffee-shop-buddy instead of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Holy of Holies. Baby believers might get away with that kind of thinking but mature Christians should, like John the Beloved, recognize that there is nothing ‘casual’ about Jesus.
God calls His people to a higher place, a holy place in His presence, in Jesus, away from the profane, lewd, mockery, gossip and lies of the accepted culture. John writes that heaven calls the end-time church, “’Come out of Babylon, My people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” 3 When John wrote this is, Babylon as an empire had been gone for over 600 years; obviously Babylon as an empire or even city is even further removed from this present time. Yet it is clear that the end-time church is here and now, and heaven is calling the church away from the immorality of the world’s culture. Listen, hear and heed His call.
Most mothers teach their children to how to be safe—look before crossing the street, don’t talk to strangers, pay attention to the surroundings and if you think something isn’t right, heed that inner warning and take precautionary action. Some children learn without experiencing negative consequences. Some don't. Safety isn’t just about streets and parks. Learning to fear correctly is almost a forgotten art, especially when it comes to the fear of God. This is especially apparent now, in the age of lockdowns, when all age groups are consuming more viewing entertainment than ever. Studies show the number of children in “family” shows using profane language has increased at an alarming rate, and that is in addition to the adults. Shows aimed at teens are downright lewd and vulgar even though they carry a rating ‘approved’ for teen audiences. Parents must be diligent, and all believers are called to separate themselves from unbeneficial input that destroys our spirit. The time for that precautionary action is long overdue.
Like other emotions, fear has been manipulated and twisted; useful fear (fear of God) is desensitized while useless fear (faith in the work of the devil) is magnified. One should expect such twisting among the ungodly, not so much amongst believers, and yet believers are not distinctly different. “Fear not” is one of the most prevalent commands in the Bible, found frequently in both testaments. Fear of God is also a term found throughout both testaments. In fact, fear of God is the only fear believers are supposed to experience, and not fearing God isn’t an option for the Christian. Believers are not supposed to fear politicians, laws, disease, economic downturns, financial set-backs or even persecution; only God. 4 Oddly enough, it is by learning to properly view and fear God that peace from all other fear is acquired.
“Come out of Babylon, My people!” The people of God cannot mingle with Babylon and survive any more than Lot could have survived if he stayed in Sodom.5 To stay in the culture of this world is to suffer the punishment and “her plagues… death, mourning and famine”.6 Just like Lot, the church is running out of time. God is calling His people to be holy7, washed in His Word8 and ready like the wise virgins who had plenty of Holy Spirit oil.9 The time is now to discard the culture that promotes useless fear, the profane and disrespect and embrace the fear of God. Come out of Babylon and live blessed in no fear but the right fear, only the fear of God.
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“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
• • • Galatians 6:7 • • •
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1. John 13:25
2. Revelation 1:17
3. Revelation 18:4
4. Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31; James 4:12
5. Genesis 19:15, 17
6. Revelation 18:8
7. 1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 11:44, 45, 19:2, 20:7
8. Ephesians 5:25-27
9. Matthew 25:1-13
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“Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and
learn to fear the LORD your God.”
• • • Deuteronomy 31:12 • • •
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