A Deadly Decision - Soul Choice Ministries

Most people don’t understand what the fear of the Lord is. There is a total lack of respect for God, even to the point of arrogance and rebellion towards Him. People mock Him in their lifestyle, their words, and their spewing of hatred for His ways. I have never seen in my 54 years as a Christian, this level of animosity toward God and Christians. Jesus said this would happen in the last days. I want to share a story about someone who also had no fear of God, and what happened to him.

Many years ago, I sold a townhome for a man. During the process of working with him, he would occasionally mock God and Christians. I was wearing a Christian fish pin on my suit coat one day and he said, “I see you are one of those nutty Christians!” I said, “Yes, absolutely, but not nutty.” He then began to make fun of God’s existence, and said it was a belief for the uneducated and superstitious.

I tried sharing a bit, but he stopped me and didn’t want to hear it. Later, during the escrow period, I attempted to share the way of salvation just one more time with him, but he immediately cut me off. After that, I never tried again.

Two days before we were scheduled to close escrow, he told me he was going to cancel the sale. I asked why. He said he didn’t like seeing me get paid a commission. He didn’t want to see his money go to a Christian. He proceeded to mock God again. I suddenly felt the fear of the Lord overtake me. I began trembling inside and I said to him, “Please do not do this.” I warned him, as I felt that that God would not allow him to get away with it.

In Psalms 119:120 David said, “My flesh trembles for fear of You and I am afraid of Your judgments.”

In Hebrews 12:21, Moses while he was in God’s presence said, “I exceedingly fear and quake.”

I had never felt that reverential, awesome, and true terror of God before. This Holy fear was not because he wouldn’t pay me, but because he continued mocking God. He repeatedly rejected hearing about God. In addition, he had no compassion for his buyers, who were also Christians. He didn’t care about hurting them, or what a terrible inconvenience it would be now with no home to occupy.

I explained to him that the buyer had already sold their home, had packed their belongings, and had the movers scheduled. He said, “I don’t care. I’m cancelling.” I said to him, “Let the escrow close, and I will forfeit my commission, so you won’t have to pay me. You can keep your money but don’t hurt the buyers.” To my surprise, he agreed. He had already purchased a new home, so he didn’t need this escrow to close first. He had the money to buy his other home without this sale.

The transaction closed two days later and then two days following, I arrived at the office in the morning. The owner of my company came to me and said, “Bill, did you see the newspaper today?” I had not. The front page of the business section showed a photo of a new house that had just burned to the ground, with the new owner inside. The person who died in that home was my client. Again, the fear of the Lord overwhelmed me.

I believe because he had the opportunity to hear the gospel several times, but refused, continued mocking God, and had no regard for God’s people…I believe God ended his striving for the man’s soul. These Bible verses support what took place:

Genesis 6:3, “And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strivewith man forever, for he is indeed flesh.”

Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.”

I believe it was not God who set the house on fire, but God removed His hand of protection, and allowed the devil to destroy him.

Ecclesiastes 10:8, “Whoever breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite.”

Job 2:7, “So Satan went forth…and smote Job.”

1 Corinthians 5:5, “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

There are also numerous verses about the evil that will befall someone who is stubborn and rebels against God.

Proverbs 29:1, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Proverbs 6:15, “Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.”

2 Chronicles 36:16 says, “But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.”

Of course, we never rejoice in anyone’s destruction, and should feel genuine sorrow for them. This especially is true for the person who is an unbeliever, because we know where they exist now. In addition, we are to forgive anyone who has wronged us, as the scripture instructs us to do (Matthew 6:15; Mark 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 2:10).

I hope this story helps you see that we serve a Holy, Omnipotent, all- powerful, Almighty God, and we should possess an awesome, holy reverence for Him. He is the creator and righteous judge of the universe.