“And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water'” (Revelation 14:7 ESV).
Consider the message proclaimed by the angel who appears here in Revelation 14:7: “Fear God… give him glory… his judgment has come… Worship him.” In modern usage, the word “fear” typically denotes a sense of apprehension characterized by feelings of worry and unease about potential threats or negative outcomes. However, this word is also is used to convey the qualities of reverence, honor, and respect.
For example, notice how Jesus employed the word “fear” in the Gospel of Luke…
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him” (Luke 12:4-5 NIV).
We should note how Jesus separated the words “afraid” and “fear” in this passage: “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body” and, “…Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell.” When we speak of “fearing God” in this manner, it means that we should honor and respect Him above all else. Perhaps this is why Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Nevertheless, we should avoid the mistaken belief that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to our relationship with the Almighty. While God is loving, slow to anger, kind, gracious, and compassionate, He also merits our respect and honor. Those who decline to treat Him in that manner should remember that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
That being said, there is no cause for apprehension when we approach God through Christ, for “…there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). There, we will find love and acceptance through His atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Thus, as we read in the Biblical book of Hebrews, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).