Though I believe heavily in the Love for the LORD bringing us into a mind of obedience, it seems that our example, which is the nation of Israel, that God used fear in order to bring them into true submission. First the death of the firstborn, was not only procured on the people of Egypt, but also would have hurt the children of Israel who had not for fear, put blood upon the door post. Because they had done this they did not have to endure the loss of their first born when the LORD passed through Egypt.

As He continued to walk with them, it was not love but swift retribution for sins, that it seems that love had not tamed. By the time they received the command to Love the LORD and their neighbors, they had already experience the wrath of God that should have brought anyone to humility. After this fiery blaze of anger was demonstrated by the LORD they were more well able to settle down, on a Sabbath and remember what He had done for them, and developed a love in doing, (which is agape) for the LORD their God.

We must admit that we obey the laws of the land, not for love of the police, but for the fear of their authority. And by contrast many who say they love their spouses cheat on them, and cry afterwards.

We realize all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but why then does the word say that fornication shall not be once named among us. This is the goal for those who say they love and fear God, but we know depending one our world around us that some things have to be worked on. We work more through a respectful fear than we do out of love. Hence the terrible twos, and the teen rebellion phase, yet we love our parents and devastate them all the same.

The scripture reads that the fear of the LORD is the beginning…the beginning of knowledge, understanding and wisdom which is the ability to apply that knowledge. If we did not need fear, why the mention of hell? Why would the rich man in hell beg for Lazarus to go back and tell his brothers of that fearful place. Jesus told this story. Yet still the greatest thing that we can do for the LORD is love him, but this love is love in action, the word agape. It is not just a feeling, but it is doing.

2Co_5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;.

Yet, after the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, we find later in the book of Revelation that some had lost that love and that the love of many had waxed cold. Jesus said they had lost their first love. Still we hear the conscious can wax cold through many sins. Even as Jesus spoke of love in the book of Revelation, he also spoke of the retribution, or judgment for a love lost, which would be brought about by fear of removal of the candle.

As righteous as we want to seem, only God is truly good, and was moved by His love for the world to send the veil who is Jesus Christ to die for our sins, even as he warned the Pharisees of hell. The scripture exemplifies that if man doubts that the LORD sees their actions, or judgment is executed speedily, they continue in their sin.

Psalms 94:7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Psalms 94:8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? Psalms 94:9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

The fear of God is the beginning, and the love for God is the glue-hold on our lives that leads to personal righteousness. Let’s say that those who are aware of these things at all times endeavor to live a more perfect life.