In the Beginning

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7

At first glance this seems like such a simple verse. If I fear the Lord I will gain knowledge, but the foolish are stupid and rebel against authority. Oh but these words are rich in their meaning.

Look at the word fear. In this passage it does not mean that it is something that I am frightened of. Second Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us this kind of fear. But, if we believe in our hearts (faith) that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead we have a reverent respect and honor for the Lord. We have a reverent fear of who He is, what He has done, what He is doing today, and what He will do in the future. His majesty is beyond any earthly kingdom, authority, and power. His holiness is beyond any earthy sanctuary. He is! He was! He is the Great I AM. In His hands is the gift of life. At His voice the heavens and earth declare His glorious name. He holds the stars in orbit, the sea from rushing the shore, and the mountains from falling down around us. He cares for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. He knows each and everyone of us by name. He is the Great I AM and worthy of our fear and trembling.

This reverent fear, resulting from our faith in understanding the miraculous birth of Christ Jesus, is the beginning of knowledge. This is not the world’s view of college degrees, doctorates, and PhDs. This is the “wisdom and knowledge” of God. This is the beginning of understanding, in the smallest degrees, - God. It is the first fruit. It is the byproduct of the first step of faith – believing Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection.

Who, although being essentially equal with God and in the form of god, did not think this equality with God was something to be eagerly grasped, or held onto, but stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity, so as to assume the guise of a servant, or slave, in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself still further and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!(Phil 2:6-8)

This small step of faith is just the beginning, the first fruit. As you let God into your life you begin to know more and more about Him. This knowledge will increase your love and reverence for Him. “Who am I that you, O God, are mindful” of a wretched man such as I?

In the beginning God…

In the beginning of life - there is death. In the beginning of the knowledge of God - is life. In the beginning of faith - is God. Take hold of Him. Learn of Him. Learn from Him, and grow in reverent fear of the Great I AM!