When I was in college, it was very trendy for Theology majors to write about the grace and love of God. They often wrote short articles that seemed to be love letters. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, and I think it is a great thing to do. But respect for entering into God's presence seemed to become diluted as people started viewing God as a grandfatherly figure so desperate for our time and attention that He overlooked our sins. 

Please don't misunderstand -- I stand in awe of the love of God, and can't put into words the love I have for Him. But I am also afraid of Him because His power is so much beyond any monster or superhero I could possibly imagine.

So when temptation parades itself in front of me, I have an easier time turning it away because I fear God. There are other reasons I obey, including the fact that I love God and don't want to hurt Him by my actions. But I also fear Him because I know that He holds the right to my next breath. Perhaps that's what Jesus meant when He said, "Be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

The difference between my fear of God and the fear on display in horror movies is that God is not hunting me down. He's not chasing me to kill me. His love propelled Him to die for me and He wants a relationship with me, but His power is far beyond Freddie or Jason and for that, I fear Him. But I love Him as well. He is the ultimate being in all of existence and I am a peanut shell under His mighty foot. That fact isn't exactly poetic or pretty, but it's reality, and accepting that helps me serve Him better. I love Him, but I fear Him too. In the constant struggle for balance, I think we should all strive to view God as He is entirely without removing the parts we don't like.