The Absence of the Fear of God

Romans 3:18 ~ " There is no fear of God before their eyes."

​A great preacher* some time ago made a statement somewhat along these lines, and I agree with the statement and its conclusion: "Where there is no fear of God, there is no fear of sin. And where there is no fear of sin, a man has the capacity for all manner of evil." I believe that this statement hits to the core of the human condition, even as our text describes--there is no fear of God before their eyes.

We look around at the atrocities happening in our world and we can only conclude that there is no fear of God. Wickedness rises up and righteousness is considered egregious to the development of our modern society. The word of God is mocked, scorned, ridiculed and spurned--and by some who would consider themselves as belonging to God. We merely have to look to the current news reports to see the growing absence of the fear of God.

But what is the fear of God? In essence, it is either awe and respect or dread and terror. It all depends on your position before Him. If you belong to God through the saving mercy of Jesus Christ, you know Him as Savior and stand before God in awe, desiring to glorify Him in all manner of faithfulness and loving obedience. If you do not belong to Him, but know of Him, your fear is one of dread and trepidation, for He is not your Savior, but is your Judge. 

But what about those who have no fear of God? This is, my friends, the worst case for the human condition. Without the fear of God they do not even dread the coming judgment of the LORD. Those who do not fear God will live as if their life is the only measure by which it is counted as good or bad.

Let's consider what it is like when it is absent. 2 Kings 17:34 states, "To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel." God had established the parameters for His nation--for the people of Israel. Without the fear of God, they departed the word of the LORD for their former manner--for their own selfish desires. To fear the LORD, then, is to live in recognition of His absolute sovereignty and willingly submit to His word.

And, as our text today says, they have no fear "before their eyes." That is to say, they look out at life and see nothing wrong with their life, though sinfulness is their chart and course. Psalm 36:1-2 give illumination to this, "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated."

It is quite easy to find the iniquity in the lives of others--and there are some who are eager to point out the sinful steps another soul has taken. But absent the fear of God you will flatter yourself in your own eyes so that you cannot see and hate the iniquity of your own heart.

Do you fear the LORD? Or do you flatter yourself so that you cannot see and hate your own sin?

That is the question every person must answer. By way of example, the Apostle Paul feared the LORD and understood himself in the light of Christ. He went from describing himself as the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9) to a wretched man (Romans 7:24) and ultimately as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Where many elevate their opinion of themselves, the great apostle to the Gentiles recognized the truth of himself in the fear of the LORD. 

So, beloved, seek to know the LORD in fear. Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." For if there is no fear of God in your eyes, you will be counted among the wicked.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

*Dr. Henry Blackaby

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