“ Fear the Lord and turn away from evil”–Proverbs 3:7
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
There is something great to say about simplicity!
For many of us our booming technological age, with its ever deepening complexity, has produced a pronounced sense of frustration in our hearts. No longer can we simply make a phone call or switch the channels on our TV. We must make use of a ‘smart’ device, a small hand-held gizmo that requires a virtual PhD in engineering or physics to make full use of. The same for our automobiles. It used to be that you could go to the dealer, pick out your new (or new to you) ride, hop in and depart happily into the sunset. But now, a (very young) technically minded sales consultant must spend over two hours with you explaining all of the high-tech features of the car, its safety and security systems, entertainment capabilities, navigation, and self-diagnostic powers. For non-techies, this is totally overwhelming and massively frustrating!
While there is much to celebrate and to be thankful for in regard to the exponential technological advances we are seeing, there is still something so wonderful about those things that are just plain simple!
I think of the beauty of such simplicity when I read the Book of Proverbs. While a part of the Old Covenant Scriptures, the quote above is one of those very uncomplicated verses that seems to summarize the life we are to live as Christians in terms that are as plain as day. No multi-page instruction manual is really required. No engineering student needs to be on standby for personal tutoring. One does not need to learn an entirely new vocabulary or skill set. It is simply a matter of fear and turning.
Now, “ fear” seems to be an odd and even off-putting way to speak of our life as Christian disciples. However, this is a different kind of “ fear” than might be initially assumed. This is a holy “ fear” of “ the Lord.” That is, it is a recognition of His supremacy, authority, and unique kingship.
In a very real sense, this phrase “ Fear the Lord” is the Old Testament equivalent of the basic confession of the Christian faith, “ Jesus is Lord.” To “ fear” our Lord on a personal level is to recognize and acknowledge the sovereignty of the Son over every aspect of our lives. It is perceiving and accepting not only His kingship over all creation, but His kingship over me! Such is the essential core of true Christianity!
The life of a born-again man or woman is one of perpetual surrender to the authority of the One who has redeemed us! Yes, there is an initial once-for-all aspect to this recognition of the Savior’s Lordship. But it is also true that, until He comes again, we will never cease affirming that we are His bondservants! He is, after all, the Lord of our salvation and the Lord of our on-going sanctification!
Along with this “ fear” of the Lord, there is also to be a turning away “ from evil.” And if you think about this, you’ll see that these two simple exhortations stand together, unbreakably so! One cannot acknowledge the Lordship of the Son without also turning away from all that is sinful and evil in His sight. And if one is not always making such a turn away from evil, then there can be no authentic personal claim to His sovereignty. The one always includes the other for good or ill.
In the least complicated of terms, our mission today (and every day) is to confess in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. And as these words flow from our souls and into our mouths, our feet are to move as we make a decisive turn away from all that is incompatible with His Word and with His complete rule over us. It’s really that simple!
After giving us this unexpectedly simple prescription, king Solomon answers a question that might logically follow: What becomes of those who live this way?
The wonderful answer is given in verse 8: “ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to you bones.”
There are people all over this globe, and some of them professing believers, who are busily contorting themselves into all manner of shapes by practices deemed effective (by unredeemed minds) in bringing a measure of sanity to otherwise discombobulated souls. The formulas for success in the quest for meaning and rest are innumerable, but in the end they are all virtually the same. It’s ‘ The Law of Attraction,’ or ‘ Be You! 6 Steps to Creating Your Personal Success Formula,’ or ‘ Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement.’ And then there’s ‘ Take Charge of your Brand: Quick and Simple Techniques to Help You Own and Manage Your Personal Brand for Professional and Personal Success.’ The cacophonous refrain is deafening! Everyone, it seems, has their best-selling book on the subject of living a life of peace and fulfillment, hawked shamelessly on TV and radio as if it’s never been tried before by previous generations of sufferers. But as Solomon himself would confess in the other book he wrote, “ Vanity of vanities. . . . there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:2, 9).
Our Father’s answer to this universal human dilemma remains shockingly simple; fear and turn! The way to peace and revival of soul is really uncomplicated. Look into the mirror and make this confession: ‘I am not lord. Jesus is! I renounce my way and claim His. I turn away from my sins and all that displeases Him, and I embrace His Holy will as my command.’ When we do this with faith in our hearts our Heavenly Father goes into action! He brings “ healing”! He brings “ refreshment”! Guaranteed! Every time without fail!
Our encouragement for this new Monday is to keep it simple! Your Father’s will for you is most straightforward. No advanced degrees are required. Just “ fear” Him and “ turn away from evil.” And then watch Him bless you!
I love you all so very much, and I will miss you dearly until we meet again on the Lord’s Day!
Mike