Luke 12:5 – 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
It’s a reverent fear that we should have. It’s a respect for the One who made us.
So many people say they are not motivated by fear. That’s not really always true. The problem is that many people sitting in a comfortable situation can state it that way, but if a lion came in your living room and it looked hungry, you going to be motivated by fear to move out of the room.
Would it be an intelligent move? Absolutely!
Now with our Lord, He is also love. So the reverence doesn’t lead to following a scary tyrant. People look at it as a negative, but it isn’t that way when you get to know the Lord. It’s another way to keep us on the path we need to be on.
If the truth be known, nothing should be scarier in existence than being an enemy of God.
When someone threatens to kill you on this earth, trust me it isn’t out of love. So if you cave into that person, what are gaining except a temporary sparing of this earthly life? However, if you know your Lord, when someone kills you, you’re present with Him. Rather now or later, you’ll want to be with Him.
If you’re being killed because of your love and obedience to Him, it will be recognized by your Lord. There is a martyr’s crown.
There are times when people chose the Lord and it has lead to an earthly death. They didn’t fear the one who could kill the body more than the one who can kill the body and throw the soul into hell. There is coming a time in these last days that believer’s may have to choose the same on a more mass regular basis.
The people, who threaten you to believe their way or face death, don’t love you. They don’t serve anyone who loves you. The One who loves you, made you, died for you, and wants your allegiance and heart. If you choose not to serve Him, you should fear.
Make Him your loving Lord, not your adverse enemy.