Fear, Faith and Follow

Three F’s aren’t generally a good thing, but in our relationship with Jesus attaining Fs is what we need to do. Let me explain the three F’s from scripture that solidify our standing in the Kingdom.

First, let’s look at Fear, which for the unbeliever brings about thoughts of God’s judgment and eternal death; if you are a believer fear has a much different connotation. We see in Proverbs 1:7 these words, “Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (CEB) True wisdom comes only from God and we then understand that God is holy, just and righteous. The fear of God is the foundation for our walk with Him, our service to Him and our love for Him. This truth is found in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, “Now in light of all that, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you? Only this: to revere the LORD your God by walking in all his ways, by loving him, by serving the LORD your God with all your heart and being, and by keeping the LORD’s commandments and his regulations that I’m commanding you right now. It’s for your own good!”(CEB)

The next F is faith, which I think comes once we have developed that reverent fear of God in realizing those characteristics listed above; holy, just and righteous. Faith simply put, is trusting God. Once we became a Christian by proclaiming our belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God and that He died and three days later arose from the grave, we came to trust God. This statement from gotquestions.org provides a good explanation. “Some people may simply trust God because it seems intuitive. They may have been raised in a Christian home and taught the Bible from their earliest remembrance. They have seen God work in the lives of other people, and they simply trust Him. Others may only have come to faith after a thorough examination of the evidence for God. Whether the decision to trust the God of the Bible is intuitive or deliberative, it is the mark of genuine faith.” Therefore, faith in God is having the kind of trust and confidence in God and in Christ that leads you to commit your whole soul to Him as Saviour (Justifier, Cleanser, Healer, and Deliverer) and Lord (Master, King). “Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.” Hebrews 11:1 (CEB) If you continue reading this passage you find there are many illustrations of faithful lives. We can pattern our lives by following their examples.

Lastly, the F of following; with fear and faith in our arsenal, we are to follow Christ’s calling on our lives. Matthew 16:24 says this, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.” (CEB) Jesus gives us this beautiful promise in John 8:12 about following Him: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (CEB) Jesus himself is the Light of our lives!

Once we have made the commitment to follow, with faith and a fear of the LORD, we have an eternal future with God and His son, Jesus in Heaven. The path is not without trials but in closing be reminded of this, “Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there – the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:20-21.

A final thought…we also have a fourth F – Future. We, as members of God’s family, have a Future!