Fear can be a terrible thing.

There are many things in life that you may fear such as water, heights, darkness, terrorism, crowds, loneliness, failure, non-acceptance or any number of things or situations.

In 1933, when times were really dark during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in a radio speech, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” but people throughout history have fought their fears in one way or another.

I would like for you to consider a fear that is a blessing. Psalm 128:1 says, “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways.” There is a blessing in fear.

The psalmist proclaims that the person who fears the Lord is blessed. It literally means “happy, happy!” In Psalm 128:4, He says, “Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed who feareth the Lord.”

“One that feareth the Lord.” You don’t hear much about the fear of the Lord these days. The Lord is looked upon with disrespect. In the world’s view, He has become just a heavenly friend when you need Him.

He has become the One who gets blamed for tragedy and catastrophic events. Even among Christians, the language of fear is thought too strong and negative, so they only speak of His love, mercy and kindness instead.

We should speak on these things, but we must also believe and share the Biblical truth of the fear of the Lord.

One of the most alarming trends in society today among both the saved and unsaved is the absence of the fear of the Lord.

There seems to be no regard for the awesome, holy, righteous and just nature of the Lord of the universe.

Man often fears what man thinks rather then what the Lord of the universe. Man often fears what man thinks rather then what the Lord says. Human reasoning and worldly standards are feared more than the Word of God.

Could it be that he unsaved have no fear of the Lord, because we, as believers, have forsaken that fear of the Lord?

When believers are dishonest, lack integrity, live immortal lifestyles, teach false doctrine, disobey laws and Biblical authority, destroy unity and lack faithfulness in worship, where is the example? “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18).

Could it be that believers’ lack of reverential trust, respect and desire to please Him before the eyes of the unsaved have hindered them?

The Bible tells us that the cornerstone of all blessings come from the fear of the Lord.

God desires to bless us. It is not unreasonable that the Lord demands and deserves our reverence. He is God and God alone. (Isaiah 45”21-22). “And there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.”

The greatest blessing of the fear of the Lord is that we turn to Him in repentance for salvation.

His Son, Jesus Christ, shed His blood, died and resurrected from the dead for our salvation.

After salvation, the Lord will bless our walk (Psalm 128:1); He will bless our work ( v.2); He will bless our family (v.3); and He will bless our future (vs 5-6).

All these blessings and more are ours if we will fear the Lord. Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). May the wholesome fear of the Lord be a part of our lives?

If you fear the Lord, there is nothing else to fear.

Scott Jenkins is pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Ironton.