To have a knowledge of a true fact does not necessarily mean that we are personally affected by what we know.

An example of this is gravity.

Many people know what gravity is and may even be able to explain the mechanics of how it works, but a skydiver will have something far more than intellectual knowledge. In addition to true knowledge, a skydiver has conviction.  I would describe conviction as the assurance of truth. For the skydiver, they have a deeper understanding of gravity, because they’ve faced it in a real situation. 

When the Bible speaks of the “fear of God,” it is not always speaking of being afraid. Rather, it is speaking more of a sense of divine awe and reverence of which we have been convicted.

For a person to have the fear of the Lord, a couple things generally happen…

1. The person has a deep conviction of their own sin.
2. The person has a deep conviction of God’s holiness.

When a person sees their sinfulness against the backdrop of God’s holiness, it produces in us the tension we call Holy Fear. 

Isaiah experienced this in his vision, when he was pronouncing judgment on everyone; he then saw the Lord, and he fell on his face, and cried out, “”My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!” (Isaiah 6:5, NLT)

The Christian still experiences this every time we ponder our sin and God’s holiness. However, the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide for us a way to come before the presence of God without being destroyed. When we experience the very real, awesome presence of the living God, yet are not consumed, it develops in us a sense of gratitude to say the least. The fear of God mixes with the mercy of God, and we become undone!

This is what fuels a deep and reverent worship: that even though God’s holiness is enough to destroy us in our sin, he has provided a way to save us from our sin and bring us close to Him, by the cross of Jesus Christ. That’s why the author of Hebrews expressed…

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)