We are delighted to have award-winning author, Patricia Raybon, stop by Christian Bookworm Reviews for her virtual book tour this month. She has two new book releases this fall, ONE YEAR God’s Great Devotional and Bound for Glory (co-author with Tim Botts).

The Secret of Fearing God
By Patricia Raybon

God is not safe. That’s the terrifying and wondrous truth. And most believers fight that truth. Sometime for entire lifetimes. Or, in my case, I dared to ask: How could the God who is Peace, Love and Joy be the same God who inspires my fear? It didn’t add up. But I was ignorant. And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

So I had to make peace, as the writer of Hebrews puts it, that it’s “a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” He’s not our buddy, as another writer said. Instead, as God Himself declared in Deuteronomy 32:39, “I am the one who kills and give life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one delivers from my power!”

Only when I accept the terrifying truth of God’s real danger – danger to sin and to Satan and to all who give in to Satan’s ways – will I understand the central fact of godly knowledge: That if it’s terrifying to fall into the hands of the God, it’s more terrifying not to fall into His hands at all.

This point was dramatized with great insight by theologian C.S. Lewis in his classic children’s story, The Chronicles of Narnia. When the children in the story probe their host about Aslan the Lion, they ask: “Is he dangerous?” The obvious answer is: Yes.

He’s a lion. Of course, he’s not safe. He’s dangerous, in fact. Just like God—who is, indeed, Almighty God. With omnipotent power. With infinite might. With purifying justice. So, yes. He’s terrifyingly dangerous. And absolutely not safe. But the children’s host adds the corresponding truth:

“But he’s good.”

Knowing this, we can rise up terrifying and wondrous journey of being His children. Knowing God can’t be controlled. Knowing God won’t compromise. Knowing God isn’t safe. Then falling at His feet in awe and gladness at being chosen for safety in Him.

Award-winning author Patricia Raybon’s newest book is the One Year® daily devotional, God’s Great Blessings, which includes this reflection on reverence. She is also author of two acclaimed memoirs, My First White Friend and I Told the Mountain to Move. She also collaborated with calligrapher Timothy Botts in his upcoming gift book honoring African American spirituals, Bound for Glory. Learn more at her website: PatriciaRaybon.Com