FEAR OF GOD

I don’t have a sense of awe and majesty when I contemplate who God is. He is sometimes criticized and maligned by people, and that, unfortunately, affects my perception of him. I accept on faith who God is, but I don’t get that gut feeling that I would have if I were suddenly confronted by someone that my physical nature recognizes as superior to me. My physical nature doesn’t register when I think of God. It’s all mental and spiritual and based on Faith rather than perception.

However, I know that if I were to encounter God under conditions where my physical nature as well as my spiritual Faith immediately recognizes who he is in a certitude that does not lead to any ambiguity, I know my immediate reaction would be awe and probably fear, just like I would feel, after criticizing and maligning a powerful and much respected world leader, if I suddenly saw him standing in front of me. I would immediately regret all the criticism I leveled at him and hope he is not offended by it. Under similar circumstances, if I were to be standing in front of God, I’m sure I would begin to experience “Fear of God.” That would be a healthy attitude for a big mouth like me, but I’m sure I would have preferred a more intimate relationship with him because I would now be standing before God empty-handed.

On the other hand, if I had developed a relationship with God before I died, I wouldn’t have that fear. My relationship would be clumsy and probably not entirely befitting his nature and my nature, but it would be honest and sincere and based on my faith in accepting God’s testimony. I would prefer this relationship before I die so that, when I do find myself in the presence of this mighty and powerful person, I won’t immediately regret my former attitude.

Maurice A. Williams