Fearing God Openly

I remember years ago, when I was old enough to sit in church without being right beside my parents, that sometimes the temptation to misbehave was more than I could bear.  Maybe I was sitting with my sisters or with friends when a fit of laughter would overcome us, or we would pass those infamous notes back and forth between us.  Suddenly I would hear it…the sound of a man clearing his throat.  But this wasn’t just any man.  This was my dad, and that familiar clearing of his throat carried a clear message to me. 

He was telling me that I better turn from my wicked ways, so to speak, and straighten up and listen to the preacher!  If I didn’t, I knew that I would answer to Dad when we got home.  And that my accounting would not be pleasant was guaranteed!

Did I fear my dad?  You bet I did in that moment!  But it wasn’t a fear born of any hatred from…or for…my dad.  Instead, it was a fear that came from my dad’s love for me, and my deep love and respect for him.  He loved me enough to teach me to do right, even if it meant he had to discipline me when I disobeyed.  

I have been studying through the book of Ecclesiastes.  Solomon spent much time pondering life’s puzzling questions.  There was so much he didn’t understand about how the wicked seemed to prosper or how unfair life sometimes was. 

But there was a truth that Solomon held onto by conviction and strong faith.  He stated it in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13:

“Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.  But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.”

What does it mean for me to fear God?  How does that look in my daily life?  

I love what William Barrick says:  “A true God-fearer lives with a full awareness of the omnipresence of the omniscient and omnipotent God.  He or she goes through life more conscious of what God thinks or knows, rather than of what people might think or know.”

We are bombarded today with what many people think or know…or think they know, as is often the case.  

Sometimes the pressure to conform to our culture is strong, and at other times it’s quietly insidious.  I know some wonderful people who are living lifestyles that are directly opposed to what God says.  It’s easy to condone them because I love them, or I am drawn in by their sincerity and kindness.  

But I, as a follower of Christ, must be conscious of what God thinks…of what He clearly says in scripture as to what is right or wrong.

Peer pressure is as sharp in my life today as it was when I was a teenager.  I don’t want to appear mean in any way.  And I shouldn’t be.  

But sometimes today we are told we are hateful if we don’t fully embrace lifestyles or actions that God clearly defines as sin.  Yet God says that those who do live in sin are living that way because they do not fear God.

I believe this is what it means to “fear God openly.”  It means to stand strong for truth…GOD’S truth…even if all around us are those who do otherwise.  We stand for God because we fear Him out of our love and respect for Him.

But more importantly, because of His great and eternal love for us who are His children.

Sometimes I think of God clearing His throat when I start misbehaving…when I stray into thoughts or activities that He knows are wrong.  I need to straighten up at His urging and turn from what He is telling me is wrong.  

God loves me even more than my dad did all those years ago.  

And that’s a lot!

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Author: Patty hesaidwhatks

I'm Patty and I write about our adult son who has Epilepsy and Autism, who still lives with my husband and me, and who is a package full of many surprises and joys and challenges and TALK! Lots of talking, which creates laughter and some other reactions as well. I also write about how God shows Himself to me in everyday life.

22 thoughts on “Fearing God Openly”

  1. You have pointed out many falsehoods which have seized our society under the guise of open-mindedness. Sadly, some of our loved ones have succumbed to them hook, line, and sinker. Apparently, they have modernized the Gospel and don’t fear God.

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    1. It’s so sad to see, isn’t it? I’ve seen so many people that I thought were very strong in the faith cave to this world’s definition of what is right. It shocks me and breaks my heart. They really don’t seem to know God or fear Him. God said there would be a sifting and I believe we’re seeing it now.

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  2. Our dads were very much alike, Patty! I’m so thankful my parents “trained me in the way I should go.” And you are so right: our moms and dads modeled God in their discipline, a sign of their great love for us (Proverbs 3:11-12). May we now stand strong for God’s truth and obey his Word. It’s all for our good!

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  3. What a great dad you had, who was able to correct with just a look and a clearing of his throat.. That only happens when we as parents have sown a lifetime of loving actions into our kid’s lives. Then the fear of damaging that relationship is more powerfully than anything that everyone else thinks is okay. Great post Patty, and I love the photo at the end.

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  6. I couldn’t help but notice that everyone that commented had similar experiences with parents watching them at church. My parents didn’t attend church with me. So I was on my own. I got saved while I lived with my grandmother. When I was 8, I moved 1,000 miles away to live with my mom and new dad. So I walked to a nearby church alone. Anyway, after I went to college and moved away from home, my parents became very involved in church. Well, I’m afraid this is turning into a long story. You were very blessed. But there are a lot of children who attend church alone. This was true when I taught Sunday School at our mission church. Thanks for sharing about standing for truth. I’m working on a post right now about that very topic. Your post is a confirmation. God bless you and your family today, Patty!

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    1. I love hearing your story, Cindy. Don’t we all have such diverse backgrounds and paths on which God has led us? I look forward to your post on standing for truth. I really do appreciate the voice for truth that you are in this world right now. Many blessings, my friend.

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      2. I just tried to reply on your blog from today but the comment section won’t work for me on both my phone and my laptop. These glitches get annoying. I’ll keep an eye on it and hope it works soon.

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      3. I seen some glitches on WP recently, too. Hopefully, they’ll work it out! I had to write my comments in a Word doc and then copy and paste it into the comments section.

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  8. Thank God for dads who give us correction, and for Him as our Father who does the same.
    We are incredibly blessed!
    My parents didn’t point me to the Lord in my years growing up but I’ve caught on now. I know my dad was proud of me during the 17 years I got to spend with him though and boy would he be humbled to see me love Jesus (as it turned out).
    I feel for people who are lost in sin because I was once too, I still mess up but I value repentance, mercy, and grace. Praying for those who don’t know the healthy love and discipline of the Father regardless of what they experience with their earthly dad.

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    1. I love your testimony, Alicia. I’m so thankful for the insights you have and for how you share them. I think sometimes that those who have experienced difficult early years do value God’s loving grace and mercy in a way that others don’t.

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