Jesus talked a lot more about hell than He ever did heaven.
In Luke 16, He told a story of a man who died and went to hell. While there, he called out to Abraham in heaven asking him to warn his family about this place of torment. He longed to have a single drop of water to cool his tongue (see Luke 16:24).
But Abraham replied, “Between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us” (see Luke 16:26). Abraham then tells the man that if his family won’t listen to what is written in Scripture, they won’t even be convinced if someone rises from the dead (see Luke 16:31).
We’re told the beginning of wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord, that the Lord encamps around those who fear him.
I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to have a true biblical understanding of their own sin and death until they can actually understand God in His holiness.
When we recognize Him for who he is, we’ll say with Isaiah, “Woe is me. I am undone. I’m a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5), or Peter when he sees the glory of Christ and His power says, “Depart from me. I’m a sinful man” (Luke 5:8).
I have come to understand that a true fear of the Lord realizes we can NOT ever run from God.
If so…
The only option we have is to run to HIM.
When we do, we find the embracing arms of a loving Father who adores us despite of ourselves.
Praise the Lord.
So today, I encourage you to embrace a healthy fear of the Lord.
Our reverent awe and our respect should come within a context where the Lord God said, “I’ve bound myself to you in LOVE.” This is where our reverence for a father who we know is for us and with us shapes the way we go about our daily lives.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Holy Beautiful Life
Featured Image by Emma Simpson on Unsplash
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