Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Acts 9-10
Acts 10:35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
It was only a summer job. I was sixteen and worked at the waterfront on the lake where we rented out canoes, row boats, and whale boats (little two-person electric boats shaped like a whale). It was early morning after a big rain. The boats all had more than a few inches of water in them; it was my job to empty out that water, dry them out, and get them ready to rent. To hasten the task I was using a submersible pump to empty the water. The dock we used was shaped like an F and I was at the top of the F adjacent to the main walkway. That pump was plugged into an electrical outlet that was on a post about twenty feet from the water.
There I was with my towels, pump, and in a hurry. I dragged that extension cord down the dock and was careful, for a while. At the top of that F configuration I pulled that cord to its maximum length to reach the last few boats. Not paying attention I did not realize that the extension cord was now drooping in the water. I was holding the pump, one foot in the row boat, one on the dock. In one hand I had the electrical cord for the pump and I reached down with the other hand and grabbed that extension cord. To this day I cannot say what happened, but I picked myself up from being halfway in the water and half way on the dock. My heart was racing, I was shaking… It was a shocking experience to say the least.
God spared my life that day, for many have died in similar circumstances. But to this day, I have a great fear of electricity. Then there was the time I caused an electrical short on a piece of equipment I was working on in a hospital and once again found myself thrown across the room having received another shocking lesson. To this day, I am careful, extremely careful, exceedingly careful about electricity. I know the power of its shocking effects.
To me that is what it is to fear the Lord God. Having been chastised of His Spirit far too often I know first-hand his power to get my attention. Having read the Bible stories of His heavy hand of chastisement on those in rebellion to Him, I know what He can do. Having seen the humiliating hand of the Lord on others warns me about myself.
I love the Lord, and He loves me. But this one thing I know, He hesitates not to keep me in line. Try as I might to work righteousness, and with a strong desire that He would accept me (not save me, but like me, walk with me, work with me, fellowship with me) I sometimes fail. For He sends me a soulful reminder to be careful. Keep the extension cord away from the water, turn off the power to the equipment before hurriedly trying to change a relay. These first-hand experiences have taught me to respect the power of electricity. After all, there is no education in the second kick of a mule. One kick should demonstrate that the mule kicks.
Likewise, the reverential fear of God and His power is ever before those that work righteousness. For without that proper respect for His authority, and His exercise of it, few righteous works will be performed. Love Him, yes, fear Him yes. It is a balance that is worth some consideration today. At least that is the way I see it.
Dr. William T. Howe
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