DOES NOT THOU FEAR GOD 

LUKE 23:39-43

          I know that Easter is long gone, and this is a passage of scripture relating to the crucifixion of Christ.  However, the question asked by this criminal as he hung on the cross is relevant in the life of man not only at Easter but every day.  So like the criminal, this morning I want to ask the questions, “DOES NOT THOU FEAR GOD”, or to be more grammatically correct “Do you have no fear of God?”  Now this is not the first time that this question is asked in the scriptures.

JEREMIAH 5:20-28  

          Here God instructed Jeremiah to ask the people, “Do you not fear me”?  Normally when we speak of a lack of fear for God we think in terms of the unsaved.  But this question in this passage is being asked of God’s people.  Verse 24 says “Neither say they in their hearts, let us now fear the Lord our God”.  These people had a relationship with God, yet they did not fear Him.  Greed coupled with a lack of fear for God had caused these Israelites to turn from God.

MALACHI 1:6

          God says here, “If I am your father where is my honor, and if I am your master, where is my fear.”  So the criminal on the cross asked this question of his fellow criminal, and God has on several occasions asked this question of his own chosen people.  The same question, “Does Not Thou Fear God” is being asked of both groups, the wicked and the righteous; of those who bare the name of God and of those who have no relationship with God.  I this morning ask the same questions of each of us here today.   Saved or unsaved, the question remains the same, “Does Not Thou Fear God?”

What Does It Mean to Fear God?

          The type of fear we are talking about is not the dread of a vengeful being that is standing over mankind to punish him for the least infraction of His law.   To fear God has more to do with respect and reverence for God as Father and Benefactor.  Many times we say that we have respect for God but our actions continue to show disrespect.  We rely heavily on and in fact we count on the mercy and longsuffering of God, while at the same time trying not to concentrate on His justice.  In the midst of our sin and even in the planning stages we can see only God’s mercy.  We have no vision of His justice and so we continue to do those things that dishonor Him.  So again, we must ask ourselves do we really fear God.  Do we respect and reverence Him?

          There are many reasons why we should reverence God.  Normally we reverence people because of who they are or what title they hold.  George Bush was a no name before he became president of the United States.  Very few people even knew who he was.  But as soon as he became president he commanded respect from the whole world.  His respect was based solely on his title.  He had done nothing.  Well God has titles too and not only does He have titles, He has actions to support His titles.  I want to mention only 4 of His titles.

God the Creator

          We all know that Genesis 1:1 says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

JOB 38:1-4

          Here in Job 38 and 39 God in rebuking Job discusses with him many of the things God did in creating, designing and dressing the earth.  The emphasis here is where was man while all this was going on?  Not only was he not there, he still can not explain how these things originated and continue to exist.  As we read earlier in Jeremiah 5:22, God asked the Children of Israel “Will you not fear me seeing that I have placed the sand for the bounds of the sea and though the waves toss and roar, they cannot over come their bounds.        How can we not fear a God who has created all that our senses can take in?  Yet the question still remains, “Does Not Thou Fear God?”

God the Sustainer

         Sustain – to give support, uphold by aiding or backing up, to provide support or nourishment, to prevent (as one’s mind or spirit) from sinking or giving away.

PSALMS 3:5

          David understood God to be the sustainer.  He slept in the midst of his enemies and while doing so the Lord backed him up, kept him and supported him.

PSALMS 55:22

          We are encouraged to give all of our burdens to God and trust Him to sustain us or meet our needs.  I Peter 1:5 says “we are kept by the power of God”.  Our minds and spirits are kept from giving away by the power of God.  He offers man peace to replace the turmoil of this world.

II PETER 3:5-7

          This speaks of the world as we know it being kept or sustained by the word of God.  God created the world and all that is therein by His word and it is now being sustained (kept in place, supported) by the command of God.  Would you not reverence any man who held your life in His hands?  Yet we have no fear of God.

God the Redeemer

          Redeem – to buy back, to liberate from slavery or captivity by paying a price, to extricate from or help to surmount a detrimental influence or circumstance.  To free from the bondage of sin.

PSALMS 34:22

          God liberates the soul of His servants, freeing them from the bondage of sin.

I PETER 1:18-21

          To buy back our souls, liberate us from slavery to sin and give us power over the influences of sin, God could not use the impure elements of this cursed earth.  God had to use the purest, most precious element that ever would exist; the precious blood of Jesus, the son of God.  But God did not only set us free from sin.  He made us His sons and daughters also.  Galatians 4:5 says, “He redeemed us that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

HEBREWS 9:12

          God purchased eternal redemption for all mankind.  But man may reject God’s redemption or sell himself back into slavery.  (Some slaves feared freedom, some through breaking the law sell themselves back into bondage in prison.)  In short, redemption means that one who is capable of redeeming and taking the place of another actually meets the demands of the law and becomes the legal substitute by paying the redemptive price for those who are condemned to death because of breaking the law.  In the case of man, Satan caused man to rebel against God and break His law, incurring the death penalty.  Man being under the sentence of death could not pay his own death penalty and also live again to enjoy freedom from sin and carry out the eternal purpose for which he was created.  To carry out the eternal plan he had to be redeemed and brought back into full reconciliation with God in order to fulfill the holy and righteous demands of the law and holiness of God.  God undertook redemption work for man by sending Jesus Christ to die for us and resurrecting him from the dead so that the original plan could be realized.  How can we not reverence one who has shown such love on our behalf?

God the Judge

          A judge is one that has sufficient knowledge or experience to decide on the merits of or to form an authoritative opinion about something. 

I PETER 1:17

          God will judge every man’s works and therefore we are told that we should spend our time before judgment in reverence and obedience.  In Romans 2:2, 16 we are told that God’s judgment is true and that He will judge the secrets of every man’s heart.

ROMANS 14:10-12

          All will stand in judgment and give an account to God.  For the Christian, I Corinthians 3:9-15 explains that this will be only a judgment of the believers works, and will determine only what rewards we receive.  It will not affect our salvation.  However for those who have not accepted Jesus as their personal savior, judgment day will be a day in the court of God to receive their final sentence.

REVELATION 20:11-15

          This is where the wicked, those who refuse to live for God receive their punishment.  Oftentimes it is hard for us to focus on the outcome of our wrong doings, especially when there is always that hope of not getting caught.  But when we sin or disobey God, we are caught before that action occurs because God sees and knows all.  Nothing is or can be hid from Him.  However, because punishment does not always come right away, we are deceived into thinking we have successfully concealed our actions.   Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”  But sentence is coming.  The warning has gone forth.  God will one day judge the world.  Those who fear and honor Him now will come to judgment rejoicing.  Those who are disrespectful or disobedient now will dread their coming judgment.  But even in the face of pending judgment, the question still remains, “Have you no fear of God?” Even when re recognize who God is through his titles and what he is capable of doing through his actions the question to mankind is still, “Does Not Thou Fear God?”

          If the following announcement was made, probably everyone here and in the Triangle area would consider it.

          “President Bush will be in Raleigh on July 1, 2004 to select 200 people for top government positions.  The minimum pay will be 100,000 per year.  He has committed himself to selecting people from all classes, creeds, races and economic backgrounds.  Opportunities are open to anyone who wishes to interview.  Everyone can qualify but there are some preferred qualifications.  Prefer no drinking or smoking, quiet reserved lifestyle, not play boy or play girl type.  Many would try to be in that 200.  But probably everyone in here tends to agree that God’s payment plan is much better than anything the world can offer and the position of eternal son to the only eternal God is of much greater value than any earthly position.  But not that many people are standing in line to join forces with God.  Are God’s positions less desirable than man’s?  Some would say His requirements are steeper.  God says come just as you are and I will help you change.  Man says change and then I will consider you.  You say man does not ask me to make drastic changes in my life style and God does.  True God will ask us to live upright.  But God’s benefit package far exceeds His requirements.  1 Cor. 2:9 says “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  Heaven is better than anything we can even dream up.  Romans 8:18 says “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” 

LUKE 18:29-30

 We gain more than we lose.  Everyone believes what I just said but not everyone will commit to joining God’s program.  Why?  Could this be the result of a lack of the fear of God?  Could it be that we honor and respect God less than we do ourselves?  We think maybe that we are wiser than God in matters that concern man.

ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14

          Solomon the man noted for his wisdom after deep thought and experimentation on the joys of life came to one conclusion on man’s purpose.  The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep his commandments.  Nothing else matters because the end of life as we know it brings man before the judgment of God.  On that day nothing will matter except whether or not you have reverenced and obeyed God. 

How can man know if he truly fears God?

PROVERBS 8:13 – Many do not hate evil.  They believe that it is wrong to do a particular sin, but they do not hate the sin.

PROVERBS 14:2 – Fear of God is evidenced by walking upright.

          Finally Acts 10:35 says “But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.”  This is a promise given to the man who will fear God.  We all want to be accepted by Him but do we all fear and obey Him.

          Imagine that your day has come to meet the God who is our creator, out sustainer, our redeemer and our judge and you are being asked the question “Do you fear God?”  The recorded evidence of your life is laid out before you.  In the presence of the almighty God you will be compelled to speak only the truth.  What will your response be?  Do you fear God?