Do You Hate Evil? Do You Fear God?

Have you grown numb to the evilness of this world? Do you find yourself tolerating or rationalizing behaviors that you know are wrong? Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes by summing up the purpose of life revolving around two aspects of a relationship with God: (Ecc 12:13-14)

1. Fear God
2. Keep His Commandments

He further states that this applies to "every person. For God will bring every act to judgment."

How do you define the "fear of God?" I used to think fearing God meant to be scared of Him but as I grew older I better understood it to mean having a respect for who He is.

If you turn back a few pages to Proverbs 8:13 you will find Solomon state that the "fear of the Lord is to hate evil." Go back to chapter 6 and see what the Lord hates..."haughty eyes," a "lying tongue," "hands that shed innocent blood," a "heart that devises wicked plans," "feet that run rapidly to evil," "a false witness," and "one who spreads strife." Across Scripture you can find many, many instances and examples of what the Lord hates (sin!).

What do you think the Lord's reaction would be to the things He sees here on earth today...our music, our lifestyles, our TV, our movies, our stewardship of our time and money, and our world and "newsworthy" events? Do you think He hates the sin that permeates our world?

Do you hate the sin that permeates this world? Or are you numb to it? Do you tolerate it? Are you passive?

Do you really "Fear God?"

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9