The fear of God is not fear in the ordinary sense. It is a profound reverence and respect for His holiness and authority. This reverence shapes every part of life—from worship to daily choices—and serves as a foundation for righteous living. It inspires believers to act with integrity, deepen their relationship with God, and ultimately honor and glorify Him. Although it is not the same as terror, this life-giving respect draws us closer to God and influences our attitudes, decisions, and actions.
Humanity’s close relationship with God was broken in the Garden of Eden. How can anyone fear God without knowing Him? All people, whether Christian or not, seem to possess an instinct that God should be adored and honored. One does not need to have read the Bible to recognize that goodness comes from God. One of the criminals condemned alongside Jesus understood that God ought to be feared.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:40–42 NIV).
The humble criminal was sentenced for an undisclosed offense, yet his confession of faith in Jesus instantly altered his situation. How could he have committed a crime if he feared God? Is it possible to fear God and still be a criminal? The answer is twofold: yes, it is possible to fear God and simultaneously be a criminal. In this sinful world, no human being can be found completely free from having committed some form of wrongdoing.
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:22–26 NIV).
In Adam, humanity was condemned to death. We may be naturally God-fearing and eager to please Him, yet we still fall short. Without Jesus, we are essentially dead, for there is no other way to attain salvation. In that helpless state, our condition mirrors that of the criminal who rebuked his companion for mocking Jesus.
The repentant criminal received unconditional salvation. Jesus never questioned his guilt or innocence. His salvation came before that of many who believed themselves free from wrongdoing. Readers may still look down on that criminal, assuming they are better than him, yet he rests safely in paradise with Jesus.
There is also the possibility that this criminal may have been condemned for a crime he did not commit. Even with a fair trial, human error is inevitable in our world of injustice and sinfulness. Many people suffer in prison for offenses they never committed. Jesus hinted at this reality, which will be revealed on the Day of Judgment.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me’” (Matthew 25:31–36 NIV).
Many prisoners, like the criminal who received salvation, are known personally by God. From a human perspective, there is a tendency to assume that every prisoner deserves incarceration. Yet to Jesus, some may not truly deserve it. Only the Day of Judgment brings fair justice, unlike the way justice is handled in our courts today.
On the other hand, the other criminal mocked Jesus, and the world has no shortage of people like that. Unfortunately, they’re often seen as wise in the eyes of many, earning approval more easily than those who wouldn’t dare speak such nonsense. Without a shift in mindset, there’s little chance for redemption for these individuals.
Those who mock God have a fair justice awaiting them (Revelation 22:15). Mockers show no regard for God’s existence, making conversations about Him feel futile. Whether they are forever irredeemable or redeemable is known only to God. Still, grace remains available, especially for those who are unknowingly in that state. God’s love has no limits.
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV).
The question is whether someone would consciously ignore the Spirit. Jesus addressed this when speaking about the religious Pharisees who had mocked Him. There is often a strong inner resistance in a person’s mind, pushing them to reject the truth. Ironically, those who claim to be devoted Christians, like the Pharisees, are sometimes the most disdainful toward Jesus. To ordinary people, such mockers seemed religiously acceptable to God.
“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:30–32 NIV).
The secret of all ages exists yet remains unknown to most. The Son of Man and the Spirit are distinct—a truth the Pharisees did not grasp. Even now, in the Christian era, this reality persists. Many confuse the Son of Man with the Son of the living God, who is like a live wire—blasphemy against Him brings eternal condemnation.
Jesus came to humanity as the Son of Man. He was killed, possibly without blaspheming against the Spirit, as long as it was done without full understanding. The key thing to remember is that within humanity exist both God and Satan. Therefore, it’s important to always discern whether it’s God or Satan speaking at any given moment. This brings up the question of how blaspheming the Holy Spirit results in the unforgivable sin.
At one stage, Peter was commended by Jesus for identifying Jesus as the Christ. But a few seconds later, the same Jesus rebuked him: “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:18, 23). This is what makes Jesus different. In our naivety, we assume that it is impossible for a person being used by God to also be used by Satan. No wonder the existence of unbelievable deception in Christianity.
When Jesus stated the possibility of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, it was after He had healed a demon-possessed man. This sparked a random mockery from those who assumed to know better. Some gave Him credit, causing division, while others rejected His Messianic nature, claiming He performed miracles through Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do you people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:25–28 NIV).
Jesus was teaching a lesson meant to inspire deeper reflection among those mocking Him. They were ridiculing the Son of Man, through whom the Holy Spirit worked to perform miracles. Someone who truly fears God would carefully examine matters before speaking foolishly, yet pride often leads people to reject the truth.
Perhaps the Pharisees were still safe, as long as their insults came from ignorance. That is why Jesus told His disciples to keep His identity as the Christ a secret (Matthew 16:20). People knew Him only as the Son of Man, which shielded them from crossing the line into blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Wisdom lies in knowing that God is different from us.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV).
The Holy Spirit, being God, moved a criminal to rebuke his companion for mocking Jesus, allowing him to reconnect with God through Jesus’ power. The mocking criminal spoke against the Son of Man, but his friend recognized not just the Son of Man but the Son of the living God, prompting him to ask, “Don’t you fear God?”
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26–27 NIV).
These words may be unsettling to those who fear God, yet some who claim to be faithful are known to treat them lightly. For those who mock God, they hold no meaning, and such people would never take them to heart. Only those who truly fear God will reflect on whether they are approved by Him or not.
God’s promises have no limit, while foolishness consumes those who fail to value His existence. Wisdom, in contrast to foolishness, can only be understood in one way. Jesus, the sole known representative of God, died on the cross but continues to be revealed through believers. A wise person can distinguish truth from error, recognizing that life is not accidental—an understanding that marks the true beginning.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have a good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise” (Psalm 111:10 NIV).
By showing reverence for God, the criminal crucified alongside Jesus found redemption. It does not matter what crime led him to the cross. He is now in paradise with Christ, waiting for the resurrection that God’s people will experience. The takeaway is that Christianity is not something to take lightly—it calls for sincere reflection.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; salve to put on eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:14–20 NIV).
It is only those who truly fear God who can grasp these words. God communicates through human beings, and those who dismiss them out of not knowing who they represent may still be forgiven. Mockers are no different from those who saw Jesus merely as the Son of Man instead of the Son of God. Those who recognize the difference respond differently, as true Christians approach such sentiments with seriousness.
Ordinary humans might appear insignificant, but when God works through them, their significance is clear to the discerning ones. A lukewarm attitude is what leads people to ignore God’s messengers. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 24:37–39, referencing Noah’s flood to show how belief and disbelief can blend. Those who believe in God are Sons of God, while those who do not are sons or daughters of men (Genesis 6:1–8).
The takeaway here is that there is a certain comfort in being lukewarm—in being where the condition of deception exists. Someone without humility tends to assume they know, when the truth is often the opposite. I suppose God forgives those who are “cold,” meaning unable to recognize the difference between the Son of Man and the Son of God. This contrasts with those who think they know but remain dismissive of the truth from the Bible.
Without God’s help, it is impossible to distinguish between His children and ordinary people. Readers who have made it this far may not be ordinary at all. God may be speaking to such individuals somewhere in this troubled world. Whatever that person chooses to do is between them and God, without the knowledge of the writer.
In the end, survival comes from fearing God by avoiding the idea of labeling personalities. Many live carelessly until the very last moment, while those who truly fear Him see beyond the physical world. Some people are sons of God, and their words hold significance. Like the criminal who joined Jesus in paradise, they notice what others overlook. In these challenging times, blessed are those who can see what ordinary eyes cannot.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, which lays out standards for lifting Zimbabwe out of its current economic depression and into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, offering relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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