Fear God pt.2
Fear:
Deep respect; reverence
My latest post, “Fear God”, is already so long, so instead of adding to it, I’ve decided to do a mini part 2. Reading through the Word of God this morning I was led to Isaiah 8:13-15.
This is such an important scripture, so maybe it is meant to be separated from the first passage, and individually addressed.
I had never read this scripture before, as I often state: God speaks, I write, and later God confirms. The order of operation switches up every now and again, but it’s always the confirmation after the obedience that blows my mind when it comes to working with God (that’s a message for another day).
Isaiah 8:13-15 speaks to the importance of fearing God over man. As you read and meditate on these scriptures, you find that like a tornado, God comes through establishing, distinguishing (between the wise and fools), and correcting (read “The Perfect Storm pt.2” for the breakdown of the symbolization of tornadoes). For those who “fear” the Lord (have deep respect for or show reverence to), He (God) serves as a security blanket, or as referred to in the bible, a Holy place. On the other hand, for those who do not “fear” the Lord, He is their downfall, or as referred to in the bible, a stumbling block. Not that He causes them to stumble, but that their deliberate disobedience leads them down a path of destruction.
Those who do not “fear” the Lord, by default, fear man (i.e the things of this world). It’s in our nature as human beings to look up to something or someone (idolatry); inadvertently causing us to live according to the rules and expectations of that idol. For instance, if you’re a lover of money, you will do almost anything to obtain it, even if that means condemning your very soul to hell. Money drives you, and without it, you feel like little to nothing. Whether you know it or not, that’s praise, that’s worship, that’s idolization.
I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again, not choosing God, and intentionally not choosing Satan does not mean you haven’t chosen a side by default. You fall into sin, while grace lifts you up. While it takes nothing to fall, it takes effort to grab ahold of the grace of God.
The Holy Spirit gave me this mental picture: Someone had fallen down a well, and descending from the light at the opening of the well was a long brown rope. It continued to descend until it met the person at the bottom (God will meet you wherever you are), they grabbed on tight, and with ease, they were lifted up and out into the light.
You must intentionally choose God, there’s no default when it comes to salvation, either you choose redemption or remain in bondage. Fearing the Lord is your way out, it’s your security blanket in a fallen world.
Scripture to reflect on:
Isaiah 8:13-15
13) The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. 14) He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. 15) Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.”
