One thing I've noticed in working with churches around the country is that many Christians have an unbalanced view of God. In today's "culture of tolerance," many have assumed God is just as tolerant and unbothered by sinful behavior as is politically correct at the moment. We've presented a picture of God as being full of grace, love and peace -- and that's correct, but what about the "Lion" part of God? He is, afterall, the "Lion" (Revelation 5:5) and the "Lamb" (Revelation 5:12).

Would some among our Christian community have such a sense of entitlement to God and everyone else if we dusted off some of the other pages in our Bibles that tell of an almighty, powerful, even dangerous God?

Solomon said, "This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

"Fear God" is certainly not a popular command now days. It sounds too offensive, archaic and unenlightened for many of our pulpits. But Solomon said it was part of our "duty" as human beings.

Matthew 10:28 says, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew is quoting Jesus in this passage and note that He (Jesus) tells us to "be afraid" of God. The worst villain in a horror movie can't send anyone to hell, but God can. A healthy dose of fear helps put things in perspective, and Jesus advised us to remember who we are to really fear.

I wish I could be poetic and use pretty words to say that the fear we should have for God is not the kind of fear we see displayed in movies, the kind Jason and Freddie Kruger conceive. But my definition is fairly similar. The Bible says, "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). God has the power to destroy me, and I deserve it. Even if I didn't deserve it, there is no earthly court or lawyer to defend me -- I am absolutely helpless and powerless. 

This aspect of God will never disappear. Even with His breathtaking love, mercy and grace, He is still the God who decided He would kill Abraham in the night, but changed His mind because of Sarah's pleading. He is still the God who flooded the earth in order to kill every human except for one family.