“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14
The fear of the Lord can be defined as “the constant and conscious awareness that God is watching and will reward accordingly (Dr. Gerald McKelroy).” As a pastor’s daughter, I often joke with people that I can’t get away with anything – my whole life people have readily tattled on me to my father. Sometimes to stir up trouble, and sometimes out of care and concern. It used to be a point of frustration. I wished they would mind their own business. Knowing my life is a fishbowl no longer bothers me. Over the years, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the reality that whether another person is aware of my actions or not, God sees absolutely everything I do, hears every word I speak, and knows every thought I entertain.
One day in college I found myself in the office of the dean of women with an out-of-the-box request. She was understandably hesitant at first. I lived on campus, and we had to have passes to be off campus alone for activities outside of work – for safety and accountability. I had made friends with a family who had horses and obtained permission to ride them whenever I wanted. As a country girl and a cowgirl going to college in a city, it was a dream opportunity. I needed permission from the dean of women for this dream to become a reality. She hesitated as she thought through things that could go wrong and the trouble I could be inviting in with this request, and I understood her dilemma. We had a mutual respect at that point, born out of the reality that I didn’t fit the mold of most girls at the college but would be readily transparent with her. I looked her in the eye and told her, I am more afraid of God than I am of you. I will do right. We had a brief stare-down, followed by her saying “Amanda McElroy, what am I going to do with you?” and her granting permission to go ride, with some conditions regarding accountability. Her willingness to let me have that personal responsibility right then helped me enormously. We should be more afraid of God and His consequences than we are of people and the consequences they can administer on us.
There are no secrets from God. It makes no difference if anyone else knows what we do, or do not do, because God knows. There is no corner of our heart where we can hide from Him. God knows all: all our desires, all our intentions, all our hopes and dreams, all our struggles, all our failures, and all our sin. We don’t get away with behaviors because no other person found out, we are fully responsible to God for all that we do.
Romans 14 clearly explains that every person will give account for themselves to God one day: “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (verses 10-12)
The fear of the Lord should be present throughout our day and our decision making. While it is easier to focus on what people think and to forget to consider what God thinks of our behavior, it is His opinion that matters above all else. He observes us, He ponders our choices, and He rewards us accordingly, whether that be with chastisement or reward.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews 12:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrew 11:6
