- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 11,642
The fear of the LORD [leads] to life, And [he who has it] will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. Proverbs 19:23 NKJV
An old-time Bible commentator defines “the fear of the Lord” as “a reverence of God’s majesty and a dread of His wrath.” This two-pronged mind-set, according to Proverbs, “leads to life,” and the life it leads to is also two-pronged, experienced in the now and the forever.
In eternity, God will “wipe every tear” from His people’s eyes; “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). That’s when followers of Jesus will rest completely content, untouched by the trouble that our Lord Himself promised now: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).
Jesus said that though, so we could have peace. “But take heart!” He continued in the same verse. “I have overcome the world.”
And that’s how Proverbs 19:23 proved true in the now, even before the forever. When we dread God’s wrath, we turn to His offered salvation. Then we can reverence His majesty and find life, contentment, and protection from this world’s problems. Even in the worst-case scenario, humanly speaking, death simply ushers us into our Lord’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:8).
It’s all a matter of mind-set. In a dark, confusing, depressing world, fear the Lord. Remember His awesome power, His searing holiness, and His staggering love. Trouble won’t be able to touch you.
Prayer: Lord God, help me to fear You. That is the way to life.
An old-time Bible commentator defines “the fear of the Lord” as “a reverence of God’s majesty and a dread of His wrath.” This two-pronged mind-set, according to Proverbs, “leads to life,” and the life it leads to is also two-pronged, experienced in the now and the forever.
In eternity, God will “wipe every tear” from His people’s eyes; “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). That’s when followers of Jesus will rest completely content, untouched by the trouble that our Lord Himself promised now: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).
Jesus said that though, so we could have peace. “But take heart!” He continued in the same verse. “I have overcome the world.”
And that’s how Proverbs 19:23 proved true in the now, even before the forever. When we dread God’s wrath, we turn to His offered salvation. Then we can reverence His majesty and find life, contentment, and protection from this world’s problems. Even in the worst-case scenario, humanly speaking, death simply ushers us into our Lord’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:8).
It’s all a matter of mind-set. In a dark, confusing, depressing world, fear the Lord. Remember His awesome power, His searing holiness, and His staggering love. Trouble won’t be able to touch you.
Prayer: Lord God, help me to fear You. That is the way to life.
