Everyone knows the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”, but we also know that fear is a tool the devil uses to paralyze us and keep us from moving forward with God. So, what’s the difference?
The fear the devil brings is torment, whether it’s in the form of worry, or whether it is piercing and terrifying. It plagues the mind and stresses the body. This kind of fear causes heart attacks, ulcers and problems with the nervous system.
The fear of God is a deep, reverent respect for Him. This kind of fear makes us stop and consider our ways when we are tempted to disobey His Word. It is the knowledge that we will someday stand before Him in judgment. It is accompanied by a deep awareness that He is all-knowing, all-powerful and His Presence is everywhere. Those who possess the fear of the Lord understand that He is God and they are not. They cannot control Him, but they can trust Him and rest on His promises.
In the last days, we will either have the good kind of fear, or we will have the terror the enemy brings! Scripture says that Noah, “moved by fear, built the ark”. Here’s the verse:
Hebrews 11: KJV
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah was moved to do something with the words God had spoken to him. He didn’t push them aside because the thought of a giant flood scared him. He believed the words that God spoke to him. In fact, he was so committed to obeying God that he embarked on a project that took nearly 100 years to complete. And, when it was complete, he received the promised salvation.
In Genesis 41, God gave Pharoah a dream and Joseph interpreted the meaning. There would be seven years with plenty of food followed by seven years of famine with nothing to eat. The Scripture doesn’t tell us if they experienced panic or not, but it does tell us that they immediately set about to store up food during the years of plenty.
Why? Because they reverenced the Word of God and took it at face value. They didn’t try to twist it or make it fit with their plans. Because they reverenced God and gave His Word the ultimate authority in their lives, they took action and saved not only all of Egypt, but the surrounding area from starvation.
Genesis 41:55-57 NASB
55 So when all the land of Egypt suffered famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.” 56 When the famine was spread over the entire face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Then the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.
What would have happened if they had not heeded God’s warning? What if they had dismissed it as a bad dream, or a misinterpretation?
Should we dismiss the possibility of a Post Tribulation Rapture without ever looking to see what God’s Word says about it? If the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” shouldn’t we have the reverence and respect to find out what God says in His Word about the timing of the rapture?
Psalm 111:10 NASB
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
All those who follow His commandments have a good understanding;
His praise endures forever.