We live in a world where fear of anything is frowned upon. People tease and make fun of others all the time because of their fears. We are told to stand up to those we are afraid of and to face our fears. That type of fear is not what Peter is talking about in I Peter 1:17. We are so prone to think of fear negatively. We think of fear as non-productive, but fear can also be very positive and productive. There is a fear we need to have. It is a reverent fear of God. All Christians should be characterized by the fear Peter talks about in I Peter 1:17 and the author of Hebrews references.
I Peter 1:17 “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:”
Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
Unfortunately, fear or reverence for anything is almost a thing of the past. Children have no fear or reverence for their parents. Because of this lack of reverence and respect, a love of self and getting what you want has replaced the proper fear a child has for his parents, teachers, and most of all God. Parents give in to their desires because it is easier, and they grow up thinking God is like that. Many have no fear of the police or any authority. Therefore, we have riots and people taking the law into their own hands. This is totally opposite to what the Bible teaches.
In I Peter 1:17, the word “if” would be better translated as “since.” Since we call on a Father who judges every man’s work with no respect for who he is. Whether he is educated, rich, poor, or whatever distinguishable differences we have, it makes no difference to God. Since this God is going to judge us as we “pass the time of sojourning,” or rather our time left here. We need to live as if we were strangers here and have a reverent fear of Him.
When we fear God, it doesn’t mean we are living in terror of Him, or afraid around every turn in life he will zap us. It is a wholesome dread of displeasing Him. The proper fear is not the fear of what God will do to us, but the fear of what I have done to Him. Our sin breaks God’s heart because He loves us and paid a great price for our redemption.
On the other hand, I do need to understand that I should be afraid of what he can do to my body and soul if I am not living for Him. I remember well when I surrendered my heart to Jesus. I did it because I feared hell. A place I knew I did not want to spend any time, much less eternity. I got saved to escape hell. When he forgave me, it was as if the whole world seemed brighter, and my love for Him was instant. I had been forgiven. I had been given a gift of eternal life in Heaven. My love for someone who would do that for me was overflowing. From that point on I wanted to please Him, not disappoint Him. Did I always succeed? No, I did not, but because of verses like I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I was able to move forward in my walk with Him.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Do I fear God? Yes, I do, I have a revertant respect for Him and a desire to please Him, instead of disappointing Him. I respect, and I’m in awe of a God who knows everything, who is everywhere at the same time and who spoke all of creation into existence. Do I ever feel God has mistreated me or that he doesn’t care? I answer with a resounding NO! I recognize I deserve hell. There is nothing about me that is worthy of an Almighty God. A God that loves me enough to sacrifice His Son for my life. He is more powerful than anything or anyone. To not fear Him is to be a fool. The beginning of wisdom is to fear Him.
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
