THERE is a word that our generation desperately needs to hear again and that is the word:Fear God. We live in a world where people fear men more than they fear God. Many are afraid of losing their jobs, their relationships, their possessions, or the approval of people, but they are not afraid of displeasing the One who created them and before whom they will one day stand.

The fear of God is not the same as being terrified of God. It is a deep reverence, honour, respect and awe for God that causes a person to take His Word seriously and desire to please Him. When a man truly fears God, he cannot live carelessly. The fear of God affects his decisions, his words, his relationships, his private life and his attitude toward sin.

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”This means that genuine wisdom begins when a person recognises who God is and gives Him His rightful place in his life.
A person may be educated, intelligent, wealthy and influential, but if he does not fear God, he is missing the foundation of true wisdom. The fear of God teaches us to live with eternity in view.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:27, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” What a powerful statement! The fear of God is not meant to destroy your joy; it is meant to preserve your life and keepsyou away from the traps that destroy the soul.

Many people fall into sin because they have lost the fear of God. Joseph had an opportunity to commit immorality secretly, but he refused because he feared God. When Potiphar’s wife attempted to entice him, Joseph said in Genesis 39:9, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Notice his words: “sin against God.” Joseph understood that sin is not merely breaking a rule; it is offending God. He knew that even if nobody else saw him, God saw him.

That is the true test of the fear of God: What do you do when nobody is watching?
You may hide your actions from people, but you cannot hide anything from God. Hebrews 4:13 declares, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
The fear of God brings integrity.Job is described in Scripture as “a perfect and an upright man, one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). Notice the connection between fearing God and avoiding evil. A person cannot genuinely claim to fear God while deliberately embracing the things God hates.

Psalm 97:10 says, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.”
The fear of God produces hatred for sin. It makes holiness desirable and disobedience painful.
We need the fear of God in our homes. Parents need to teach their children that God is real, that His Word is true, and that life is accountable to Him. We need the fear of God in our churches, because church attendance alone does not make a person acceptable before God.
Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

The fear of God will make us more concerned about obeying God than impressing people.
The fear of God produces righteous conduct toward others.One of the greatest reasons we must fear God is because judgment is coming. The world may speak as though everyone will eventually get away with everything, but the Bible says otherwise.
Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
We will all give account.You may escape the judgment of men, but you cannot escape the judgment of God. You may convince people that you are right, but God knows the truth. You may hide your sins for years, but nothing is hidden from Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

This should cause every soul to examine his life.
What if today you were called to give an account before God? What would He find in your life? Would He find genuine faith? Would He find holiness? Would He find obedience? Would He find love? Would He find a heart that truly belongs to Him?
The fear of God also helps us overcome the fear of man. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Many people compromise their convictions because they are afraid of what people will say. They know what is right, but they are afraid of rejection. They know they should stand for Christ, but they are afraid of being mocked.But when you fear God, the opinions of men lose their power over you.

The apostles demonstrated this courage when they were commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus. Their response was clear: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
The fear of God gives a believer courage to stand.It is possible to have respect for people without allowing people to replace God in your life. Friends may leave you. People may misunderstand you. Some may laugh at your convictions. But if you stand with God, you are never standing alone.

Hebrews 3:15 says, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
The fear of God should bring us to the cross. Christ came into this world to save sinners. He died for our sins and rose again. He is calling men and women to repentance, faith and obedience.

A life lived in the fear of God is a life lived with eternity in view. It is a life that says, “Lord, whatever You command, I will obey. Whatever You hate, I will avoid. Wherever You lead, I will follow. Whatever people say, I will remain faithful to You.”
May God give us hearts that truly fear Him, lives that honour Him, and souls that are prepared to meet Him.