TELLING IT LIKE IT IS!
Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water. Rev. 14:7, R.S.V.
Have you ever been scared to death of someone--until you got to know him? A college dean, a company president, maybe even your first-grade teacher? His rank, his potential power over you, left you feeling vulnerable and nervous until you discovered he liked you. From that point on, his exalted position became your garland--you were friends!
Did he change, or did your perception of him change? Most likely, you simply learned to know him for who he was. And your respect for him grew as you experienced the genuine warmth that housed his genius, his accomplishments. If the occasion arose for you personally to defend him, no doubt you found it richly rewarding to be able to say, "No, he's not like that at all. Let me tell you about him!"
Our text today contains a word that many honest seekers of God have misunderstood. To them, to "fear" God means to be rightfully afraid of Him: He's God! And He destroys sinners! What happens then, when you learn that He likes you? That you no longer need to be afraid of Him? Does He expect you to return to fear so as to give Him due respect? Let me say right now that if you are fearful of God, you cannot glorify Him properly! (1 John 4:16-19).
The word fear here means respect. To "fear God and give him glory" is the experience of learning to know God so well that your heart throbs with the deepest kind of ardent love and reverence. It is your highest joy and choicest privilege to explain Him to those who are still threatened by His exaltedness. You literally "give him glory" by attributing to Him accurately His wonderful character. He's been misrepresented to the human race since Eden. But "the hour of his judgment has come," and we get to be His character witnesses!
We are also given the privilege of worshiping Him. This is no "groveling in the dirt" kind of servility! Rather, like the dignified, impassioned salute one might give to a returning king, victorious in an ugly battle, we may render homage to the great God who is our Father and our friend.
Now that is about the best news I can think of!
Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water. Rev. 14:7, R.S.V.
Have you ever been scared to death of someone--until you got to know him? A college dean, a company president, maybe even your first-grade teacher? His rank, his potential power over you, left you feeling vulnerable and nervous until you discovered he liked you. From that point on, his exalted position became your garland--you were friends!
Did he change, or did your perception of him change? Most likely, you simply learned to know him for who he was. And your respect for him grew as you experienced the genuine warmth that housed his genius, his accomplishments. If the occasion arose for you personally to defend him, no doubt you found it richly rewarding to be able to say, "No, he's not like that at all. Let me tell you about him!"
Our text today contains a word that many honest seekers of God have misunderstood. To them, to "fear" God means to be rightfully afraid of Him: He's God! And He destroys sinners! What happens then, when you learn that He likes you? That you no longer need to be afraid of Him? Does He expect you to return to fear so as to give Him due respect? Let me say right now that if you are fearful of God, you cannot glorify Him properly! (1 John 4:16-19).
The word fear here means respect. To "fear God and give him glory" is the experience of learning to know God so well that your heart throbs with the deepest kind of ardent love and reverence. It is your highest joy and choicest privilege to explain Him to those who are still threatened by His exaltedness. You literally "give him glory" by attributing to Him accurately His wonderful character. He's been misrepresented to the human race since Eden. But "the hour of his judgment has come," and we get to be His character witnesses!
We are also given the privilege of worshiping Him. This is no "groveling in the dirt" kind of servility! Rather, like the dignified, impassioned salute one might give to a returning king, victorious in an ugly battle, we may render homage to the great God who is our Father and our friend.
Now that is about the best news I can think of!
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