TERRIFIED OF GOD

BY DARIN

As this series continues, I want to go to the next expression of fear: terror. We have covered why we should fear and what happens when believers and unbelievers do not fear The Lord. So lets transition to the polar opposite of a lack of fear, and talk about the terror of The Lord.

An example of this terror is found in Revelation 6*:

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

As Christians, we no longer fear the wrath of God; it no longer abides on us:

Romans 5
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

We as Christians are reconciled to God, and no longer are at war with Him. But the unbeliever is still at extreme odds against God, and His wrath is being stored us against them: But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. (Romans 2:5)

And that day is pictured in Revelation. The verse above shows the unrepentant unbelievers response to God's day of judgment: they hide in fear, wishing for death rather than face Him. They hide in caves and try to escape His gaze because they are terrified of His judgment and wrath.

We get to fear God without terror. That is one of our greatest blessings. To make Him pleased is our ultimate goal now as Christ followers, glorifying Him whether we eat or drink, doing them all to make His name hallowed! Our fear is not one of hiding, but one of honesty, where we see ourselves as sinners, and work in the power if the Holy Spirit to become more like His Son, so that when our judgment comes, we can hear Well done, my good and faithful servant (Matthew 25).

Our day of judgement is not one of condemnation, but one of evaluation, where we are judged by our works either done in or without Christ. There will be Christians who will scrape through and barely make it, and others who will be well rewarded for working in Christ's name:

1 Corinthians 3
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Ours is not a judgment of wrath, but one of reward and grace. Our response to this judgment isn't terror, but eager anticipation, as we prepare now for that day in reverent fear of God's weighing our actions in our judgment!

1 Corinthians 9
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Philippians 3
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

2 Timothy 4
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

We as Christians recognize the wrath of God to come, however, and should be our motivation to share the gospel with every person we encounter!

2 Corinthians 5
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 

Let us now warn unbelievers of the wrath to come, tell them to fear God, but to not hide in the caves, but to come into the light of His Son, in whom their salvation will be found! Let us all cling only to His cross, and live in a healthy fear of God, one that says I will do everything I can in the power of God to be a pleasing vessel for His glory!

*All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version.

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Darin is a former youth and college/career minister. He is looking for his first pastorate and, of course, any opportunity to preach the Word. He can be reached at [email protected].

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