Yahweh Elohim – The Lord God

But as for you and your officials, I know that you still do not fear the Lord God as you should.” - Exodus 9:30 (NASB)

One time many years ago, the king of Hungary found himself depressed and unhappy. Though he was a believer, the king had gotten a glimpse of his guilt for the way he'd been living lately, and he seriously wanted help. He sent for his brother, a good-natured, but rather indifferent prince. The king said to him, "I am a great sinner; I fear to meet God." But the prince only laughed, which didn't help the king's disposition any.

There was a custom in Hungary at that time. If the executioner sounded a trumpet before a man's door at any hour, the occupant of the house had to present himself for arrest. The trumpet call was a signal that he was to be led to his execution.

The king sent the executioner in the dead of night to sound the fateful blast at his brother's door. The prince realized with horror what was happening. Quickly dressing, he stepped to the door, was seized by the executioner, and was dragged pale and trembling into the king's presence. In an agony of terror, he fell on his knees before his brother and begged to know how he had offended him. "My brother," answered the king, "if the sight of a human executioner is so terrible to you, shall I, having grievously offended God, not fear to be brought before the judgment seat of Christ?"

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7) If we have not put God first in our lives and made Him the Sovereign Lord, then we should “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28) But even those who have decided to accept Christ as their personal Savior should not entirely lose their fear of Yahweh Elohim. It is true that He has become our Father. It is true that He is now our Savior. However, a judgment yet remains for us (Romans 14:10; Hebrews 9:27).

The judgment seat before which Christians will stand is called the Bema Seat. The Bema Seat involves responsibility for our works (Romans 14:12), review of our motives, methods, means and manners (1 Corinthians 3:11-13; 4:5), and rewards for a job well done and a life well lived (1 Corinthians 3:14).

We often mistake God’s goodness for safety. A criminal is not safe in the presence of a good judge. Make no mistake – we are criminals. We may have received a pardon, but we continue periodically to sin. Let’s not forget our true nature and the nature of He with Whom we deal!

Many people struggle with a fear of other people. They fear ridicule. They fear rejection. Perhaps they have not yet learned this lesson: We fear men so much because we fear God so little.