Fear of God was once a motivator for good behaviour. This is however not so now as man has forsaken God and has become god in his own eyes. The focus has shifted from being God-centred to being man-centred. This has been the story from the beginning since the fall of man in the garden of Eden. Man wanted to be like God and in a disobedient act lost his relationship with God. Man had the potential to rule and reign on earth as all authority was given to him to do so. However Satan bewitched man and man fell to his temptation. Ever since then man has feared man rather than God. This shift is what has brought about the chaos and strife we see in this world.
Fear of man leads to all kinds of ailments both physical and mental. Look around you and see the destruction caused by man on nature and how all creation groans for the revelation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19 -22). Jesus came to redeem us from the fear of man and to walk in the fear of God. This fear is not where we are afraid of God but have a holy respect and love for Him. God is love and He can be trusted at all times. The fear of man leads to distrust and therefore jealousy and envy and other lusts follow. We don’t trust each other because we are so self-centred. All we care for is me, myself and I. This can never lead to trust but only mistrust. We therefore create a world of lies to cover up for our sins. This cover up then leads to a fake world of show and glamour but not much substance. What a sorry state of affairs.
Jesus came to restore us to a right relationship with God. His relationship with His Father was one of intimacy and fellowship. He only did what He saw His Father doing. He walked in close fellowship with His Father. He travailed in the garden of Gethsemane to be delivered from temptation and to face the Cross before Him. Yet He said not my will but your will be done. He was abused by man and suffered for righteousness sake and took on the punishment we deserved. This holy exchange led to our deliverance. Now we can walk in the fear of God and be delivered from the fear of man.
