Proverbs 9:10 *The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding*.
I read about a guy who wanted to fornicate with a lady. His erection was strong and solid ready to tear her apart. Then the lady said, "I am HIV positive". The first thing that came to his mind was to double his condom.
Later, he told himself it was risky having sex with a carrier either with protection or not. He lost his erection immediately and he came to his senses. He felt he should not even take such a risk at all.
If you do not examine this story with the lens of scriptures, you may think the guy is God-fearing since he did not embark on his fornication plan. I make bold to say that despite not fornicating that day, he lacked the fear of God.
His refusal to fornicate was because of fear of the consequence(s) of sin not necessarily because he feared God. If that lady did not confess to having HIV, he would have gone ahead with his intention but he was afraid of contracting HIV more than he feared God.
That describes the "fake" holiness some are displaying today. They are afraid of being caught that is why they are yet to sin. Meaning that they can attempt any evil that comes to their mind If there is no possibility of being caught. Such persons fear consequences more than they fear God. That is not holiness.
Before you adjudge a man as upright, you need to ask God to give you insight into who he really is when no eyes are watching. Some are as good as when they are seen but they turn into something else when found in environments where no one knows them or can checkmate them.
The holiness of some people is yet to be tested. They are good because all eyes are on them and the consequences of any negative action they take will be pronounced.
Today, some preach the fear of consequences of sin more than they preach the holy reverential fear of God. That is not the true message of holiness. In fact, that is one of the problems with legalism. It speaks more about fear of consequences than any other thing.
*What God intends to achieve in us is that reverential fear that will make us stand for Him even when no eye sees us and when there seem to be no known negative consequences for our actions. The moment we operate at that level, God will be pleased with us*.
A lot of secret things go on today among believers yet the same people will come up to preach about holiness or testify how "God" blessed or favour them whereas they got that thing on a platter of compromise. The boldness to testify came upon them because no one saw them. No traceable evidence.
1 Samuel 16:7 says, *"But the LORD said to Samuel...People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart*" (NLT).
If you have the opportunity to steal and enrich yourself without being caught, will you steal? If while away from home and the brethren, you have the opportunity to engage in sexual immorality, will you decline such opportunity? Is HIV or other STDs your reason for sexual abstinence?
*What you do when no one sees you or where physical consequences do not exist is the true revelation of your character*.
Romans 2:16 says, *"And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life*".
Do you truly fear God or the consequences of sin?
Father, let your holy fear dwell in me in the name of Jesus Christ.