Reverence for God is not a weakness. It is a virtue. It is honorable and noble. Many today think that blatant ungodliness and rebellion shows that one is strong and independent; to be so bold so as to shake one’s fist at heaven.

There’s something missing from all of one’s relationships when there is missing from his or her character a sense of awe with reference to the Creator. The respect which we have for God will influence our respect for others and for self. And it works the other way around as well. The Scriptures show that “...the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom He has not seen” (1 John 4:20).

Maybe the reason that there is so little respect for one another today, and so much selfishness and hate, is because there is no respect for God. It is not easy to respect creatures in God’s image if one does not respect the God who gives to all life and breath and all things. One cannot curse God with his or her mouth without drawing a breath of God’s air into their lungs.

We have two New Testament epistles which Paul wrote to Timothy. Toward the close of the first, Paul sought to instill in everyone a reminder of the greatness of God. Consider what he said; “...He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

The word translated “Sovereign” is a noun meaning “ruler” or “prince”. The adjective form means “having power.” Jesus used this form when He said, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). In other words, God is able to do all that needs to be done. He never lacks the power to do what it is His will to do. He can save a rich man; He can allow a camel to pass through a needle’s eye. Men cannot do these things, but God can.

Some men and women are powerful, relative to other men and women. But relative to God, all of us are weak. The greatest kings, dictators and generals of history are nothing in power when compared to God. Man, in his silly pride, often forgets this, to his own harm.

One other thing; this also tells the believer something. We can have confidence in our God. Neither His promises nor purpose will fail. He is in control and He rules over His universe. Men and women are free to choose their way only because God, in His sovereignty, allows it. In fact, He wills it. Nothing can occur without His allowance, and not a single tremor of the smallest molecule escapes His notice. Put your trust nowhere else. He has left that decision up to you. Let the world laugh now; its laughter will one day fall silent. Let your faith be in Jesus as One who made a career out of “overcoming the world” (John 16:33).