August 10, 2024 -- Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 -- A Good and Proper Fear

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 ESV

In his teaching series “The Fear of the Lord” (offered through Ligonier) Michael Reeves explores this important biblical concept. Think of all the things people are afraid of: financial ruin, being mocked, being exposed for some sin or other, death, climate change, the government and so on. The list is nearly endless.

The passage todays shows the difference between a healthy fear of God and an unhealthy fear of God. An unhealthy fear of God is to act as if He doesn’t exist. It is written in Romans 1 that the wicked suppress the knowledge of God. They know He exists. Creation makes it plain there is a Creator. The wicked refuse to acknowledge His existence. In suppressing such knowledge the wicked become fearful of everything.

The believer has an appropriate fear which governs all other fears. The believer knows the Father in heaven has punished his sins on the Person of Jesus Christ. No man needs to be afraid of God, but to fear Him means to walk in His will; to govern one’s life according to the commands of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit so fills a believing man that all other fears are put into their proper place.

Climate change: mankind is given stewardship of the planet. It is important that under the Sovereign control of God people care for the planet God has given. However, the Christian believer knows God will bring history to its rightful conclusion when Jesus returns. 

Governments: so many people are anxious about who rules the US, Canada, or who might be the secret, powerful people nefariously working behind the obvious world leaders. There are so many conspiracy theories, so many people peering worriedly into various books, nooks and social media crannies, hoping to uncover the secret dealings. Christians know the human heart is wicked. Believers are to fear God, that is, to conform their minds and their actions according to the law of God. Believers pray for whomever is in government (think of it, much of the New Testament was written during the time of evil Roman Caesars). Believers know God rules all the kings and princes, despots and tyrants of the world. They will die. God exercises His rule over the nations through the Son, Jesus, Who is forever the King of kings and LORD of lords.

Death has no fear for the Christian, for Jesus has opened the way through the grave and death by His resurrection.

Financial losses do not make the Christian afraid; Jesus walked the earth in poverty, confident that all He needed would be supplied by the Father in heaven.

Dear family in Christ, examine your life. Are you afraid of many things? Put your confidence in God. Fear the LORD and keep His commandments. He has already acted in love, saving you through Jesus Christ and guarding your salvation by the Holy Spirit Who lives in you, sealing into you the blessings of God. Confess your unfounded fears. Trust in God. Walk in obedience to His commands and know that this life, however long or short it is, will give way to life eternal in the glorious presence of Him Who is all your heart’s desire.

O God Whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying thee
   and being engaged in thy service;
Thou art All in all,
   and all enjoyments are what to me thou makest them,
   and no more.
I am well pleased with thy will,
   whatever it is,
   or should be in all respects,
And if thou bidst me decide for myself in any affair,
   I would choose to refer all to thee,
   for thou art infinitely wise and cannot do amiss,
   as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal,
   and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
   and all I can do is to adore and bless thee.
What shall I give thee for all thy benefits?
I am in a strait betwixt two,
   knowing not what to do;
   I long to make some return,
   but have nothing to offer,
and can only rejoice that thou doest all,
   that none in heaven or on earth shares thy honour;
I can of myself do nothing to glorify thy blessed name,
but I can through grace
   cheerfully surrender soul and body to thee,
I know that thou art the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is thine alone,
that every good work or thought found in me
   is the effect of thy power and grace,
   that thy sole motive in working in me to will and to do
   is for thy good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
   about man’s creaturely power and goodness,
   when, if thou didst not hold us back every moment,
   we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience,
   thou hast taught me concerning myself.
"God the All" from Valley of Vision

https://youtu.be/LOuw3rLY7Zg?si=oz3wA_fdvZn3Ig4D Blessed Assurance

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