To the extent that our souls are empty of faith, they are filled with fear. We read of people who have died by no other cause than their fear. But we never read of anyone, once brought to life by faith, dying because of fear.
Triumphing over Sinful Fear, 35Fear, Fear of God, Death0
If we fear God, we dare not ignore what He commands. If His fear is exalted in our hearts, it will enable us to obey Him in duties accompanied with deep self-denial.
The essential ingredients of the fear of God are correct concepts of the character of God, a pervasive sense of the presence of God and a constant awareness of our obligation to God.
Fear of God is a leading grace; it is the first seed God sows in the heart. When a Christian can say little of faith and perhaps nothing of assurance, yet he dares not deny but he fears God. God is so great that he is afraid of displeasing Him and so good that he is afraid of losing Him.
When the fear of God is strong in your heart, then the fear of man ceases. When the dictator ruled at Rome, then all other officers ceased; and when this fear of God rules, all other fears will be hushed.
To fear God is to have the awe of God abiding upon the heart, to be under a sense of the majesty and glory of the Lord shining forth in all His attributes, especially in His holiness and omniscience; the glory of His holiness, and the sense of such a holy eye upon the soul strikes it with dread and consternation. This is expressed in Scripture by sanctifying the Lord in the heart. "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me" (Lev. 10:3). "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread" (Isa. 8:13).
Indeed we talk much of fearing God, but where is the man that lifts up God on high in his heart, by making him his dread? That acknowledges so his eminency with reverence, as to stand in awe of him above all creatures?
I do confess myself one of the old-fashion professors, that covet 'to fear God, and honour the king.' I also am for blessing of them that curse me, for doing good to them that hate me, and for praying for them that despitefully use me , and persecute me.