The fear of God

I RUSH forward, I surge ahead without thinking — as if the world belonged to me.

Why not? Who cares? What is there to fear anyways?

All action and motion. Forward, ever forward. Never-ending, churning energy pushes ahead.

Who do I think I am? What in the world am I doing? Why don’t I rest, at least for a while?

Who are you, O man? What makes you think and act this way?

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

Your heart beats every single second of every single day.

Have you ever, after all these years, even once thought about this?

A tiny miracle repeats itself within you, over and over, day after day, year after year.

Who makes this happen? If not you, then who?

Who are you, O man, that you do not even consider this? Have you no fear of God?

The Creator sees me, busily moving about. Scurrying around. Scheming. Conspiring.

I hatch plans that will be forgotten in the blink of an eye.

The presence of the Lord is far too much for me to comprehend. Is that why I keep running? Can I escape reality?

The truth? Without the spark of God, I’m nothing — just dead flesh. Yet even this doesn’t make me afraid.

Who are you, O man, that you do not consider this? Have you no fear of God?

He breathes fire into the suns. Entire worlds come forth and then vanish according to His Word.

The universe flows as commanded by the breath of His Spirit.

Each blade of grass pushes up and out of the earth as He calls life to Him.

Every drop of water He forms into a polished, perfect gem.

How foolish am I thinking I’m somehow all-important.

Still, even though it should, even all of this doesn’t make me fear God.

His entire creation echoes across the universe — and this tiny dot of flesh on a speck of dirt thinks he’s in charge.

What finally then brings me to my knees, face on the floor, trembling, fearful, crying out in His presence?

It can only be one thing.

All that has been, all that is, and all that ever will be — it must all be sustained by the Creator — because He loves it all.

And he loves me. He keeps my heart ticking. He alone gives me the spark of life.

And on top of it all, He also gave me his Beloved — made fragile — like me — for me to know Him intimately as my God.

So I open myself to Him. I let down my guard. His Spirit pours over me, into me, and through me. It overwhelms me.

I shudder. I cry out. I tremble in His presence. It’s nearly too much to handle — the love that breathes life into the universe — all for me.

Now I understand what it means, finally, to fear God.

He is truly, truly good. And I am a wicked man.

And even in my wickedness, He gives Himself to me freely.

The infinite, life-giving, never-ending love — made just my size —

— with all the love of the universe held inside.

. . . . . . .

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
    his understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 40:28

…

…

…

Never miss a post. Subscribe to Third Millennium Man.

Support my writing.