Day 159
Today we conclude our look at separation by examining the end of 2 Corinthians 7:1: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Do you have a healthy fear of God? I am convinced that most people don't. They think that the God of the Old Testament was an angry Father that took some type of anger management classes by the time the New Testament comes into being. The New Testament is all about love, mercy and forgiveness, right? God is the same in both Testaments. He hates sin, plain and simple.
When I see some of the sales pitches given by TV preachers, I can only conclude that they have no fear of God. Send them money and you will be healed, find a spouse, or get rich. Whatever you want, you can have if you will just send them money. It is foolishness and we need to have enough fear of God in us to say so. Albert Barnes wrote concerning the "fear of God:" " Out of fear and reverence of God. From a regard to his commands, and a reverence for his name. The idea seems to be, that we are always in the presence of God; we are professedly under his law; and we should be awed and restrained by a sense of his presence from the commission of sin, and from indulgence in the pollutions of the flesh and spirit. There are many sins that the presence of a child will restrain a man from committing; and how should the conscious presence of a holy God keep us from sin! If the fear of a man or of a child will restrain us, and make us attempt to be holy and pure, how should the fear of the all-present and the all-seeing God keep us, not only from outward sins, but from polluted thoughts and unholy desires!"
Now I don't want you walking around all day fearful that God is going to squash you like a bug; however, I do want you to have a healthy fear that everything you say and do must be accounted for. This is done either by accepting responsibility yourself (this has tragic results) or living a life of daily repentance and clinging to the cross of Jesus Christ and His shed blood to cleanse you. The choice is yours; so what is your decision?
When I see some of the sales pitches given by TV preachers, I can only conclude that they have no fear of God. Send them money and you will be healed, find a spouse, or get rich. Whatever you want, you can have if you will just send them money. It is foolishness and we need to have enough fear of God in us to say so. Albert Barnes wrote concerning the "fear of God:" " Out of fear and reverence of God. From a regard to his commands, and a reverence for his name. The idea seems to be, that we are always in the presence of God; we are professedly under his law; and we should be awed and restrained by a sense of his presence from the commission of sin, and from indulgence in the pollutions of the flesh and spirit. There are many sins that the presence of a child will restrain a man from committing; and how should the conscious presence of a holy God keep us from sin! If the fear of a man or of a child will restrain us, and make us attempt to be holy and pure, how should the fear of the all-present and the all-seeing God keep us, not only from outward sins, but from polluted thoughts and unholy desires!"
Now I don't want you walking around all day fearful that God is going to squash you like a bug; however, I do want you to have a healthy fear that everything you say and do must be accounted for. This is done either by accepting responsibility yourself (this has tragic results) or living a life of daily repentance and clinging to the cross of Jesus Christ and His shed blood to cleanse you. The choice is yours; so what is your decision?
