Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Where did the fear of the Lord go? I am talking about the real reverence for the mighty God and His instructions that are clearly written in His word that we submit to and obey. Why has the word of God gone unheeded or just plain overlooked? Why is God ignored and His word judged as maybe I will do it, and maybe I won’t do it? What has made us able and willing to shrug off the commands that God has given to us for a righteous life, the word that has been given by God in order for us to live a vibrant and blessed life? Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
How can we be walking in the righteousness of God, professing to be Christians, and then turn our lives over to the devil and his ways and expect the blessing of God? Gal. 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Why have many believers created a new Gospel that suits their own beliefs and vague interpretations? James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Self-deception is a dangerous spot to be in because the devil no longer has to deceive you. You are doing a good enough job of deceiving yourself on your own. Once a person is in that mindset, then the Bible becomes something of a part-time convenience rather than an everyday Godly standard to live by. Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The sad part about rewriting scripture to suit one’s own lifestyle is that most lifestyles are just for a fashionable segment of time. When the trend or fling is over, there is an empty and powerless feeling for life because the insipid standard that was lived by lost its ability to deliver real joy and peace. Why? Because the Prince of peace was never involved.
The Bible became a dry rule book rather than the incredible living word it actually is. By this time the self-deceived start blaming God for all their problems and they go back to their empty self-existence. Prov. 26:11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can bring about a change in the fool’s heart because the Holy Spirit knows how to judge righteously. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
The sad part about rewriting scripture to suit one’s own lifestyle is that most lifestyles are just for a fashionable segment of time. When the trend or fling is over, there is an empty and powerless feeling for life because the insipid standard that was lived by lost its ability to deliver real joy and peace. Why? Because the Prince of peace was never involved.
The Bible became a dry rule book rather than the incredible living word it actually is. By this time the self-deceived start blaming God for all their problems and they go back to their empty self-existence. Prov. 26:11 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can bring about a change in the fool’s heart because the Holy Spirit knows how to judge righteously. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
We read the story of Korah who felt he could take the word of God and do what he wanted with it. Change a few things, make it a bit more for today, so to speak. Times are changing and we have to keep up with what the world is doing and who cares if a few loose morals are broken along the way. After all, that is progress, isn’t it? This argument has been going on for thousands of years and the result is always the same, complete and utter loss with pain a plenty.
Korah felt that he should have more of the God action in the camp. He also felt that Moses was hogging all the real important ministry and wanted to take over by consensus and majority or his own interpretation of the word of God. Num. 16:3 They (Korah and his sons) united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD’s people?”
Moses is trying to minister to Korah from the word of God and points out that he does have a role to play in the work of the tabernacle of God. Num. 16:10 Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? Self-deception blinds us to our relationship with God and we get testy and demanding while losing the fear of the Lord.
God, through Moses, sets the record straight as to the truth of the word. Num. 16:28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea. Now Moses explains to the people that if Korah and his entourage die a normal death then God never did call Moses, but if the death is unusual you will know that God called Moses and that is the truth of the word. Num. 16:31 He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned.
There is always pain and suffering when people start rewriting the word of God to suit their own idealism. Under the new dispensation of grace that we now live in, thank God every time we mess up the ground does not swallow us up. Grace does not give us permission to disregard the word of truth. Rather, embrace the word of God because we are so grateful for His goodness toward us. Grace gives us the power to obey, not disobey.
The fear of the Lord is what will keep us from manipulating the word of God say what we want it to say, rather than what it truly said. God gave us the Bible so that we could have a manual for life and a relationship with God Almighty. Why would you want to change that blessing for a few cheap thrills that will come to an end as all cheap things do? Prov. 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. Come on now, get up, and make the fear of the Lord your choice.
The •fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and discipline.