The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life

by John Paul Bevere

God is the One who sets the real measure of worth in this universe, not man.

So what is your value? Paul writes, “God bought you with a high price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). God’s bid for you—His set price—is found in these words: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16 NKJV).

They cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever. (Psalm 49:7–9)

The lack of God’s revealed Word speaks to the absence of His presence; it was nonexistent, no different than the worship service in Brazil. However, in the days of Moses it was fully present.

Therefore, delayed judgment is not denied judgment.

“By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.” (Leviticus 10:3 NKJV)

For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. —PROVERBS 5:21

we will diminish His greatness, even to the point of human limitations, the less we fear Him.

Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. (Revelation 2:23)

Profession: I will live my life knowing God is fully aware of my intentions, thoughts, words, and actions.

From this point forward, we’ll say it like this: our salvation is matured through fear and trembling.

Here’s the truth. We cannot do anything to make God love us more or less, but we are responsible for how pleased He is with us.

This brings us to an important question: could the incident of this couple be a sneak preview of the believer’s judgment?

Oh wow. Very interesting

Passage: That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10 AMPC)

Profession: Pleasing God is my first priority in life. He is working in me both to will and to do His good pleasure.

The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. —OSWALD CHAMBERS

The sin was their motive—the desire to be viewed in a certain light.

For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:1–2 NKJV)

People can perform actions and speak words that are godly, but without holy fear they commit sin by their intentions.

Here is the raw truth: First, not one motive or intention can be hidden from God, and second, it will eventually be revealed. The important question is: Is it hidden from us?

This couple’s lack of holy fear blinded them to the wickedness of their own motives.

Profession: I will love those I interact with by speaking truth and seeking their benefit over my own.

“He is the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

Freedom is found in living according to the truth in our inward parts, while avoiding self-promotion or self-preservation.

If I’m self-focused, then I’ll seek to project an image that will cover my known inadequacies. Jesus gave His life to free us from this slavery.

Here is the good news: we can repent of our dark motives, and God will not only forgive, but if we cry out to Him for holy fear and renew our mind through Scripture, we can be blessed with pure motives.

Passage: “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” (Luke 8:17)

Profession: I will allow the double-edged sword of God’s Word to expose the thoughts and intentions of my heart.

The fear of death and judgment goes out of us as the true fear of God comes in, and that fear has no torment but is rather a light and easy yoke for the soul, one which rests us instead of exhausting us. —A. W. TOZER AND HARRY VERPLOEGH

So, in essence, what we do with the cross determines where we will spend eternity; however, the way we live as believers determines how we will live in the forever.

So, view the judgment seat as the interview and evaluation that determine your everlasting position in His capital city of the new heaven and the new earth.

Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. (1 Corinthians 3:12–13)

There are two things to note: First, our achievements will include how we influenced others’ lives, along with how we used our God-given talents to build His kingdom. Second, our eternal reward will determine our eternal position in His kingdom.

But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (1 Corinthians 3:15)

Please hear my heart—it is my hope that this holy fear Paul identifies will persuade you to not waste your time on things that do not profit or to spend it focused on your projected and perceived image. It’s my hope that your gift of time is dedicated in obedience to His Word and Spirit.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:10–11 NKJV)

Profession: I will look for and engage in eternal opportunities, not merely the ones that perish with this life.

The carnal person fears man, not God. The strong Christian fears God, not man. The weak Christian fears man too much, and God too little. —JOHN FLAVEL

authentic holiness isn’t bondage; it’s true freedom.

You will serve whom you fear! If you fear God, you’ll obey God. If you fear man, you’ll ultimately obey man’s desires.

Passage: Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe. (Isaiah 8:13–14)

Profession: I am a servant of Christ. I seek His approval over the approval of others.

Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then . . . And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” (1 Peter 1:14, 17)

Peter warns that we will be unfavorably judged, either in this life or the next, if we yield to these cravings.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way (path) which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14 NKJV)

Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14–16)

Holiness is not a “should be” recommendation; rather it is a “must be” command.

Passage: And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. (Isaiah 35:8)

Holy fear empowers me to stay on the highway of true holiness.

Profession: I choose to be holy as God is holy!