(Proverbs 14:27) “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
Sin
deceives us to not fear the Lord and keeps us far from His righteousness, but
the end thereof is most certainly death. Even our conscience bears witness to
that truth until we are so damaged by sin that we no longer have a conscience,
it get seared, no differently to a hot iron burning one’s skin and deadening
the nerves. You needn’t go back too far in your life; recall any one of your
childhood memories, the first time you stole a sweet from a café, do you
remember the turmoil when walking out, dreading that you would get caught. Or
the first time you explored pornography, I was sick to my stomach. Or the first
time I recall telling a lie, it felt as if my heart would burst. But sadly as
time moved along the debaucheries that once sickened us have now become a way
of life for so many. This is why the spiral of sin has no end; it can never
satisfy but most certainly wreaks havoc with those taken by it. Without the
mercies of God we would all end up like those in Sodom and Gomorrah, or those
taken by the great flood in Noah’s day. There was no fear of God in their minds
until the flood came and then there was great panic, but then it was too late!
Death loomed and swallowed them up!
When
it comes to sin in our lives it would in my opinion be good for us to fear God,
even though we are covered by the blood of the Lamb. When it comes to communing
with God, we are at liberty to approach Him with boldness, no differently to a
son approaching his father. But I believe I have crossed the lines with my understanding,
which is probably why I shattered my femur, am HIV positive and failed
marriages and these are just some of the scars I bear in my body. Having said
that, God is far greater than my lack of understanding and I love Him even more
because of that. He has never given up on me and for this I am forever thankful,
praise His name!
Now
with that penned we bring so many necessary hardships upon ourselves through
life, if only we would capitalize upon this verse; “The fear of the LORD is a
fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” Remember Solomon’s
conclusion after exploring every possible avenue that life and sin tempts us
with great promises; he came to this conclusion; “Vanity of vanities, says the
Preacher; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 12:8)
– All the lures that life tempts us with are nothing more than a smokescreen of
empty promises; here then was his advice to all who would sit up and take note;
“My son, beware of anything beyond
these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of
the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed
into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14)
Signing off
Tyrone
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