I am reading a book at the moment; in fact I have just started it and am barely a few pages into it and it has already struck me as one written by a man in whom the Spirit of God rested. It is well over three hundred years old, and is as relevant today as the day it was written, perhaps more so, for it speaks inadvertently, whether intentionally or not, of fear, with the subject matter pertaining to consistently and constantly remaining in the presence of God.
It is a compilation of letters written down by the listener, the receiver of wisdom, who was told at the beginning that if his main purpose in receiving the information was not to glorify God, then he would have no reason to return on any further visits, a bold statement that only men who are sure they are being led by the Lord are willing to make.
But that is not the subject matter, the topic is remaining in the presence of the Lord, from the moment one rises in the morning until the day is done, and one finds their head back on that place that it rose from that morning. It is, as stated, a frightening thought for most who call Jesus Lord I believe, for they would feel that every move, every thought, every action would be under scrutiny, not in a pleasurable way, but in one that would be seeking by the Lord the opportunity to punish the moment that an infraction occurs. Such is the mindset of the man who lives under the law, who has deemed his own works as justification for his salvation, for the one who does not understand the love that we are loved with.
It is the fear that keeps people from thinking about Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” It is the man, or woman, who understands their sinful nature, but instead of addressing it, of transforming their mind, (Romans 12:2) instead attempts by “good behavior and thoughts” to earn the favor of the Lord. This individual in no way understands the word “grace,” they understand forgiveness, but will not apply it to themselves. In the clearest of terms, they fear being in the presence of the Lord, for they cannot see the love they are loved with.
Here is the root of works, here is the foundation that every false religious idea is based upon, that we will never be accepted in the beloved, (Eph. 1:6) that continuing penance, to use the deceiving Roman Catholic word, is necessary at all times, that in a sense, even bypassing that false religious system and others like it, that repeating 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” is something that must be done continuously, without fail, for we are beings steeped in sin that can never know peace in this life. They are afraid of being in the presence of God, for they do not understand how much they are loved.
An individual who succumbs to fear is generally useless, their faculties of mind flee from them, and for the professing born-again believer to live in this state is to question their faith. It is expected of the lost, the veneer of pride they cover themselves with is a lie, one that will be torn away and revealed on their final day, for those who worship the creature instead of the Creator, those in religious organizations, fear is the key to keeping them in line, if you will, the fear that the moment they step into the presence of God they will be punished, hence the priest class to do that for them, an incredibly masterful deceit of Satan.
The one who understands that we are loved with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3) does not fear, but seeks to remain in the presence of the Almighty at all times, not just because He protects us and nourishes us, but because He is our loving Father, and His love for us is eternal. We do not try to “toe the line,” we submit to His will, always, because we believe that His love is true, that it is everlasting, and once we have found Him, we hold fast to Him.
In the presence of the Lord God my friends, is the only safe place. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
