Can we fear God and believe we are valuable to him at the same time?
There are two different kinds of fear. The first I remember feeling after taking a nice long walk in the woods on the Columbia Gorge trails. I was on one of my retreat days with God and really having a fantastic time walking and listening to music and books along the way. I love the combination of physically pushing myself and wrapping my mind around spiritual concepts at the same time. It's just good stuff. When I got to the climax of the hike I found myself standing at the edge of a cliff in awe of the drop below and the water fall taking the leap. The foaming water spraying off in a mist as it hurled itself off the cliff. There was fear is peering over the precipice mixed with amazement and wonder.
The second kind of fear is the one I don't like. It's the look in the eyes of my daughter when I have lost my temper, given in, and yelled at her. I hate it when i do this. It breaks my heart as soon as the words come out of my mouth and I see the look in her eyes. Just writing about it makes me melt in my seat. I have felt this fear as well, not just caused it. It's crippling and paralyzing. You want to crumble or bolt.
In Luke 12 Jesus tells us not to fear the one who can destroy the body, but rather to fear the one who has the power to throw our souls into hell. This of course is God. He is the only one who has the authority to do this. Hell is not something the Devil is in charge of. If you don't believe me check out Revelation chapter 20. The lake of fire, hell fire, was made for the devil and his angels to be burned up in not to be put in charge of. It's not an eternal torture chamber,its the means of destroying sin once and for all.
So we are to fear God, but in what way? Jesus doesn't leave us hanging on this one. He immediately tells us God sees every sparrow and we are much more valuable than them. He knows ever hair on our heads. A little later in the chapter he pushes the point again. Don't worry about what you will eat, drink, or wear. God takes care of the birds of the air and we are much more valuable than them.
Are we to fear God with the eyes of the child whose parent has just lost his temper? I don't think so. He is awesome in power and he will do away with sin in the end, for which I am eternally grateful for and long for with everything that is in me. I am tired of the suffering in this world because of our choices to hurt one another and the decay of nature around us.
But we do not fear him as one who is to be punished. We fear him as a child who is valuable in the eyes of their father. A father who knows every hair on our heads and who seeks to care for us even better than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. He deserves our awe and wonder because he is powerful and because he loves us and values us so completely.
While we were yet sinners Jesus came to die for us. The sin/hell problem is taken care of. As we choose to run into the arms of our Father we have no need to fear the fire only accept his love and the value he places on us.
May you know today, you matter to God. You are his prized possession and he has not forgotten you. Bask in the wonder and awe of the value he places on you today.
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