"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen,
moved with godly fear, prepared an ark . . ."
Hebrews 11:7
There are two kinds of fear mentioned in the Bible. One is good, the other is bad. One is godly, the other is ungodly. Let me illustrate. A fear or respect for fire is good. It can be used for good to cook and warm us on cold days. However, a tormenting fear that I will be burned with fire is not good. It does nothing good in our lives, but only torments our minds. Likewise, godly fear is respect for God. We respect Him as our Creator, Father and Judge. Tormenting fear is not from God. It is never good, and always evil. It doesn't come from God (2 Timothy 1:7).
Godly fear motivates us to obey God, even as children who respect their parents obey them. Noah moved with godly fear to prepare an ark, knowing that God's judgment on earth was coming. God places His fear in the hearts of all His covenant children. It is designed for our good and to assure us not to depart from God. This godly fear is a sure sign that God is at work in you.
God promises His people: "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart from Me" (Jeremiah 32:40).
Do you have a godly fear in your heart? I certainly hope so. If you do, rejoice that God will never turn away from doing you good. Also, He never desires for you to depart from Him. Most of all, it means that you are a covenant child of God, which offers everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord (John 3:16; Hebrews 13:20). Like Noah, God is at work in you to do His will.
We praise You God for working in our hearts.
