FEAR GOD. The first two words of the first angel's message are profoundly significant for an age that has become casual and care less toward the Deity and is so often irreverent. There is a logical progression in what the three an gels say, and these very first words need to be understood because they lay the foundation for all of man's relationships to his Maker and to his fellow man.
The tyranny of words often prevents us from honestly under standing the meaning of things. The word fear is one of these. It has both a negative and a positive element in it. Several years ago I was invited to attend a study group composed largely of college-age young people engaged as a witnessing team who regularly spent Sabbath afternoons in prayer and study. On this particular Sabbath they hopefully in tended to launch into the depths of the first angel's message. After four hours of intensive study, discussion, and prayer, they were still on these first two words. When we parted that day, everyone realized he had only begun to touch the full significance of what this first angel was saying.
Fear as used in the Scriptures has a wide range of meanings, just like the word wine. From wine in the cluster to wine that moves in the cup (Isa. 65:8; Prov. 23:31). To fully understand this word fear depends on the position occupied. "Fear God" is different to the sinner than to the saint. The sinner, rebellious against God and all He stands for, will actually know in the end what being afraid really means. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). To the Christian, however, to fear God means an awesome respect and reverence for the Deity.
Even this apparently has an am bivalent nature to it. The easily accessible approach to God is balanced by an awesomeness that leaves man prostrate. Though it is true "perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18), and we are to come "boldly unto the throne of grace" (Heb. 4:16), we must never forget that when the law was given on Mount Sinai even Moses was affected.
God Hates Sin
When we understand the sinfulness of sin, then we begin to grasp why this conflict takes place. We must remember that our God is a God of love, but He hates sin. He hates it so much that He ultimately intends to destroy every particle of it from His universe. He intends that everything shall be clean and pure. It was this sin-hating element that caused Adam and Eve to hide in the Garden. It is this problem with sin that causes any person who knows God to fear, lest he himself become contaminated. The real men of God have always sensed this.
Satan tries to capitalize on the nature of our sin-hating God by twisting the scene to make God out as a tyrant. He tried it first in heaven, and has continued his devilish distortion on earth. When people react negatively to the tyrant theme, Satan thrusts before them still another distortion by cheapening our God; humanizing, sentimentalizing Him through music, art, and literature.
Atmosphere of Cheapness
Today we are submerged in an atmosphere of cheapness in sacred things. From bumper stickers to so-called "religious words" tacked on to music appropriate for the night club or "Joe's Bar room." While Christ is our Elder Brother, He is still God. He is the same both in the Old and New Testaments when dealing with sin. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8).
"Humility and reverence should characterize the deportment of all who come into the presence of God. In the name of Jesus we may come before Him with confidence, but we must not approach Him with the boldness of presumption, as though He were on a level with ourselves. There are those who address the great and all-powerful God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable, as they would address an equal, or even an inferior."— Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 252.
"Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire" (chap. 12:28, 29). Once we catch the significance of God's hatred of sin, then we can begin to understand what is meant by "godly fear." There will remain a proper and awesome respect for God, and yet at the same time we are drawn to Him because He is our Father. True wisdom and knowledge both begin here. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10). "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7).
Lack of Reverence a Tragedy
The tragic history of ancient Israel stemmed basically from their lack of reverence. They lost both the wisdom and knowledge of God. "When the Israelites first settled in Canaan they acknowledged the principles of the theocracy, and the nation prospered under the rule of Joshua. But in crease of population and inter course with other nations brought a change. The people adopted many of the customs of their heathen neighbors and thus sacrificed to a great degree their own peculiar, holy character. Gradually they lost their reverence for God and ceased to prize the honor of being His chosen people."— Ibid., p. 603.
Modern Israel, with its generally irreverent behavior in the house of God, demonstrates far too often that she simply has not grasped the significance of these first two words—"Fear God." We secularize our services with announcements that degenerate into clubhouse promotions and fund-raising ballyhoo—from "bike-a-thons" to Investment projects.
Most of us, I suppose, resent receiving a devotional whiplash on Sabbath. Often our minds are suddenly snapped away from worship by some announcement to buy, sell, paint, scrub, or what have you. A typical example of this sort of thing occurred in one of our larger churches (note that irreverence is not restricted by congregational size). Someone stood beside the pulpit holding a branch of cherries high for everyone to see. It didn't take long for this "Sabbath-keeping" hawker to launch into his Investment sales pitch. "These fine cherries can be purchased for twenty-three cents a pound. That's much cheaper than you can buy them in the markets."
We excuse this sort of ecclesiastical flip-flop by referring to the age-old "worthy cause" concept which the devil sold so fully to Babylon centuries ago. This smooth-running machinery of our denominational structure often sputters in matters of worship, simply because our timing gear is off. The wise man warned us of this possible malfunction: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Eccl. 3:1). There certainly is a time to sell cherries, but not on Sabbath! Undoubtedly some of our announcements ought to be made on the other six days by personal visit, mail, or telephone. Communication is really no problem when we honestly look at the situation.
"Our present habits and customs, which dishonor God and bring the sacred and heavenly down to the level of the common, are against us."—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 495. "The evils that have been gradually creeping in among us have imperceptibly led individuals and churches away from reverence for God, and have shut away the power which He desires to give them."—Ibid., p. 711.
We simply cannot borrow all the techniques of Madison Avenue without losing something spiritually. It is appalling to see the remnant church mimicking the mannerisms and methods of modern Babylon. Whenever I hear applause in our churches or see young people in jeans as they come before the Lord, I say to myself, "I've seen and heard that before." Sadly I remember those days of darkness and confusion in apostate Protestantism when I was searching for the truth. It is so terribly painful to witness what is happening to us as a people!
It is extremely important for us to be able to differentiate be tween the sacred and the secular. Long ago God gave His ministers counsel along these lines. "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Eze. 44:23).
Buttons Missing
There are definitely some but tons missing in today's brand of Christianity. One of the most glaring of these is this matter of reverence. As ministers, we most urgently need to grasp the significance of the first angel's call to "Fear God." Fear lest we become contaminated by the world with all of its materialism and its clamor that we satisfy the carnal nature. Fear lest someone should lose his way because of our disobedience. Fear lest, coming suddenly, He should find us sleeping.
When we truly fear God, we are shut in by His majesty and power, and we are not frightened by little men. God has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb. 13:5, 6). "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Ps. 34:7).
Freedom From Fears
The fear of the Lord releases us from all other fears. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7). He who stands in awe of God can be free from all anxiety. "To know that we have a never-failing Friend to whom we can confide all the secrets of the soul, is a happiness which words can never express."—Counsels on Health, p. 628.
"When perplexities arise, and difficulties confront you, look not for help to humanity. Trust all with God. The practice of telling our difficulties to others only makes us weak, and brings no strength to them. It lays upon them the burden of our spiritual infirmities, which they cannot relieve. We seek the strength of erring, finite man, when we might have the strength of the unerring, infinite God."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 146.
When we once grasp the awe some majesty of God, then we can begin to appreciate the words of Moses: "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut. 33: 27).
Understanding the first two words of the first angel's message prepares us for the tremendous climax in the third, when all the satanic powers make their final thrust against God's people. True reverence is the root of genuine piety. The Scriptures teach that it prevents conceit and is a deterrent to sin of any description. "True reverence is revealed by obedience."—My Life Today, p. 284. Is it any wonder that our message begins with "Fear God"?
