Hebrews 10:31–It is a Fearful Thing

Hebrews 10:31–"The Lord will judge His people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

The fear of the Lord forms the basis for knowledge and wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:1). And often this fear is rendered as reverence.  And while this is true, we should not forget or neglect the terror element to the fear of the Lord.  In a real sense, wisdom is based as much on reverence for the Lord as it is our intense fright at His power and justice.  Recognizing who God is with all His Presence, His Power, His Wisdom, His Creativity, and His Justice is, among many things, a terrifying thought. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that many would rather neglect His presence altogether, for to accept His presence is to face the Holy One in light of our own unholiness.  This is the fear of the Lord and this is why it truly is a fearful thing to fall into His holy hands.