Standing In Awe Of God

Jon Stewart has a show on The Comedy Channel called The Daily Show. He supposes himself a very funny man who comments on the news and makes light of almost anyone and anything. One of his favorite targets is Christianity. Here’s an example of some of his work:

    “Thou shall not kill. Thou shall not commit adultery. Don’t eat pork. I’m sorry, what was that last one?? Don’t eat pork. God has spoken. Is that the word of God or is that pigs trying to outsmart everybody?”

Now that may make for funny commentary and I share this not to castigate Jon Stewart but to illustrate that God knew men would scorn His holy word. The wise King Solomon wrote:

    “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” (Proverbs 13:13)

The Hebrew for “despises” is buz and it means “to scorn” or “to deride.”

Why do men so despise the Bible? Why do so many dismiss it as just a collection of writings from old guys wanting to push their religion on people?

The devil plays a big role in deceiving our minds into believing what is convenient for our lives. Sin is fun for a season but in the end the bill due is beyond our ability to pay.

However, God has given us the wonderful and horrible gift of free will and as our Sovereign King He will allow us to do exactly as we please, but not without a cost:

    “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.” (Proverbs 1:29-31)

That verse alone tells scorners and scoffers you can have all the fun you want; why pick on the Bible? If you believe the Bible to be foolishness, why mock it? Why not let believers have their Bible and have their Jesus and you can just go your own way and have no need to comment on us?

It is because your soul longs for righteousness and you will try to find it in any form possible if you reject the Bible. You have to have it because without it you are incomplete. You cannot be a whole man without righteousness because you are made in the image of the Righteous God, Creator of all. Jesus Christ Incarnate gave us the model man by which to pattern our lives.

And what was so amazing about Jesus that is almost always missed by believers and unbelievers alike? He always showed reverence for His Heavenly Father. Up to His very last night alive on earth He glorified His Father:

    “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:1-5)

We will all one day stand before our Creator and give an account to Him, but while we live on this earth we all have time to obey His commandments and begin reaping heavenly rewards and escape His wrath. As Matthew Henry puts it:

    “He that stands in awe of God, and reverences His word, shall escape destruction, and be rewarded for his godly fear.”

Do you stand in awe of God?

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2009 David Jeffers

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