Fear God
The Bible tells us that we are to "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). To fear God is to have a high and awesome respect for Him. If we fear God we will be obedient to Him and obey all He says. "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments" (Psalms 112:1). We are blessed greatly in our fear and respect of God. We will delight in His word.
Why should man fear God? "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalms 111:10). It is very wise to fear God. And "Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways" (Psalms 128:1). Our respect and fear of God will cause us to walk as He directs so we can go to Heaven. If we fear God, we will obey Him. Christ is "the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5:9). "Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him" (Psalms 85:9). Only those who fear God will do what He says so they can be saved and go to Heaven. The vast majority of people will not do what God says because they do not fear Him. They will be tormented forever in the eternal fires of Hell (Matthew 7:13-14).
Why don’t many people fear God? "The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’" (Psalms 14:1). Because many people do not believe in God, "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). "A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident" (Proverbs 14:16). If we are to be pleasing to God we must, "Fear the Lord and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:7), because, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13).
We must be very serious and, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). We are to, "Serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28-29). What will happen to those who don’t fear God? "The devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever…and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:10, 15).
But "As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him" (Psalms 103:13). "He will bless those who fear the Lord" (Psalms 115:13). "God is greatly feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him" (Psalms 89:7). The blessings of the Lord will be beyond the wildest imagination of those who fear Him, "Because eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Let’s have the greatest of respect and fear for our God and Creator, who loves and cares for us and holds our eternal destiny in His hands, so we can be with Him through out all of eternity.