There’s this little guy, and he walks into this tough bar on the wrong side of the track. See? And looks around till he finds the biggest, baddest dude in the place. See?
So this shrimp walks up to this bad dude and throws a double-shot of whisky in his face, then commences to use the guy’s gut as a punching bag. See?
Well, about the time shrimpy there starts breaking out in a sweat, the bad dude’s eyes are about finished stinging. So the big, bad dude has about enough of shrimpy beating on him, and reaches out one fist over shrimpy’s thick skull, and lowers the boom. Now shrimpy is like a bag of bones on the floor.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10 ESV)
Why should we fear the eternal One, when there is forgiveness in Him?
As the only One who can grant forgiveness, He is also the only one who can refuse forgiveness. Even those who walk in His way must do so cautiously, so as not to take His forgiveness for granted and step out of His protection in disobedience.
Human despots rule through fear, even though they are usurpers. If their power to judge and destroy the body earns their subjects' fear, how much more must we fear God's judgments, which might doom our rebellious souls to perdition?
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. (Psalms 130:3-4 ESV)
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. (Proverbs 17:2 ESV)
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. (Proverbs 17:3 ESV)
But, what about the shrimpy bag of bones? He would have done well to make friends with the big guy, but some folks are too stupid to grasp the obvious.
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