Exodus 20:20 states “Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” In order for us to have 20/20 spiritual vision we need a healthy dose of fear, trembling and testing. When we do not fear God the way we should we then loose knowledge and wisdom as Proverbs 1: 7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.” Exodus 20:1 “God spoke all these words”- the Ten Commandments and the people were afraid. “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.” When we loose the fear of the Lord, we loose everything. Moses said to the people “do not be afraid”. This type of fear draws us close to God not away from Him. Another part in this verse is about testing. Deuteronomy 4:34 “Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?” Being tested by God is part of the process. We are tested by God to see if we will follow wholeheartedly. Deuteronomy 8:2 “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 13:3 “you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” 1 Chronicles 29:17 “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” We just finished our covenant service and have stood before God and have committed to Him that we will follow Him wholeheartedly. If He tests you, will you past the test. Be prepared to be tested; God may check to see if you meant it.
In order for us to have great spiritual 20/20 vision, we need to be people who fear God and tremble at His word. Isaiah 66 states, “These are the ones I look on with favour: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Let us be people who this can be said of!
