Shock and Awe

Hebrews 12:28 NIV

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..."

The first Gulf war featured a new tactic that kept people watching daily.  The commander's briefings would include video of the latest missile strikes and the accuracy that put them into windows of buildings.  They called it "shock and awe".  I remember it vividly because I had joined the military that year.  Some from my unit had volunteered to go and become part of the ground forces that would push into Kuwait.

Well it seems that the original author of shock and awe was God.  The author of  Hebrews records that God will shake the foundations of earth until the only thing that remains is the unshakable.   Those who remain will be received into this kingdom. 

I am thankful we are a part of an unmovable kingdom.  God is worthy to be worshipped with reverence and awe.  Reverence means to worship in modesty, to the point of not looking up.  In other words, we recognize how worthy God is and can approach Him only because of Jesus.

Awe appears in us when we recognize the power and might of God, and we realize with fear how easily our actions could have delivered His wrath but His actions delivers to us grace instead.  As the author says in the next verse, Hebrews 12:29 (NIV) - for our “God is a consuming fire.”

How does God consume you - with wrath or with grace?  Wrath can be removed by allowing Christ into your life.  You do not have to dread God.  However, I would dread living without Him.