THE TERROR OF GOD (PART 3)

"Hank, he's relentless, all right?  He won't quit."

Walter White, Breaking Bad.  Image from www.amctv.com

 

"Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.  But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD'S sight; so the LORD put him to death."  Genesis 38:6-7

 

God relentlessly pursues evil to expose and destroy it.  Evil.  Sin.  God won't let it go.  He won't quit until good triumphs.

 

What does this mean for you?

 

If you see the police behind you, how do you feel?  If you're obeying the law, you feel fine, though careful.  If you're speeding, you feel afraid, trying to slow down before the sirens come on.  But what if they DO come on?  Fear!  Do you run?  Never!  Because if you run, he will chase you.  If you fight, he will fight back.  If you shoot he will shoot back.  But he won't stop until he arrests you. 

 

This is the terror of God, as it is written,

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.  For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Romans 13:3-4

 

God, His angels, and His law officers relentlessly dedicate themselves to exposing and destroying evil. 

 

If there is sin in your life, know that God hates it.  But He doesn't hate you.  He loves you and gives you an opportunity to confess your sin to Him and Him alone.  He doesn't want to expose you or embarrass you.  He wants to forgive you.

 

But don't misunderstand.

 

God is relentless in destroying evil, so much so that He poured out all of His fierce angry wrath against evil on His Only Begotten and Sinless Son:  The Lord Jesus Christ.  He did this for you and me, for all of our self centered sinful living, which makes us worthy of death and hell.  But you know this already.  You've felt it in your conscience.  I don't need to convince you.

 

The Word of God says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us of all our unrighteousness."

 

But the Lord Jesus also says this,

"Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.  But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he's the one to fear." 

Luke 12:4-5 NLT

I've heard some say that "the fear of the Lord," doesn't mean we should be afraid of God.  This is true only if we are not in sin; for the sinless, the fear of the Lord means supreme ultimate respect for Him.  But if we are in sin, and stubbornly refuse to admit and stop sinning, we should very much be afraid of God, like those who are speeding and being pursued by the police.  As I quoted earlier, those who do good have nothing to fear.  But those who do evil should be afraid!

Choose.  Right now.  Which side of the Terror of God do you want to be on?  If you live by faith in Christ with your sins forgiven, then the Terror of God is your protection from those who want to do you wrong, just as the police protect law abiding citizens from criminals.  They will feel the Terror of God when they think of harming you.  But if you are the one doing wrong, YOU will feel the Terror of God like one who is being pursued by the sirens of a police car.

Choose.   Say these words,

"God, I supremely respect you.  Forgive me of all my sins because of the Lord Jesus' death for me.  I live for You from now on."

That's it.
You have nothing to fear.
The Terror of God now protects you from those who seek your harm.
Thank God that Jesus died for you and me.  He loves us.  He protects us!