Living in Reverent Fear

And remember that the heavenly Father
to whom you pray has no favourites.
He will judge or reward you according to what you do.
So you must live in reverent fear of him
during your time here as “temporary residents.”
1 Peter 1:17

Another secret of living a godly life in the midst of a godless world involves the way we conduct ourselves hour by hour through the day. Peter says we are to do it “in fear.” We don’t hear much about the fear of God today, and when we do, some may think only of images of a fire-and-brimstone preacher pounding a pulpit. We need a better perspective.

Perhaps the word reverence gives us a clearer picture of what Peter means here. In fact, the New International Version translates this phrase “live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” The point is, if we’re going to address God as Father, then we should conduct ourselves on earth in a way that reflects our reverence for Him as our Father.

Also, if you’re going to address Him as our Father, if you’re going to have a one-on-one relationship with Him in fellowship and in prayer, then conduct yourself as one who knows that you will someday have to account to Him for your life. Why? Well, in case you didn’t know, “each one of us shall give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:1).

When we die, we will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ where we will independently account for our lives before God. He will see us as our lives pass in review, and He will reward us accordingly. It’s not a judgment to see if we get into heaven. That’s taken care of when you invite Jesus into your life as God and Saviour. We will all give an account of the deeds we have done in this life, and God will “test the quality of each man’s work” (1 Corinthians 3:13). That thought, alone, will instil a big, healthy dose of the fear of God in us!

This Christian life is a tough fight. The only way for us to be emancipated from that slavery was to have someone redeem us. That ransom price was paid by Christ, not with gold or silver, but with His precious blood. In doing so, He broke the chains that bound us to this world. He opened the door and said, “Now you’re free to live for Me and serve Me.” That single emancipation proclamation made possible a life of hope beyond temptation.