A lot of movies have been made in recent years dealing with the living dead, also called zombies. I do not need to go into any detail about them except to say that I do not watch them.

Halloween, no doubt, is a time when many horror movies are going to be shown. It seems that people love a good scare every now and then.

Anyway, the Bible declares that no biological virus is needed for people to be among the living dead. Many are there – in God’s eyes – and they do not even know it.

God says that when you know the truth, as found in the Bible – “the way of understanding” – and choose not to walk according to it, that you are among the living dead. It means that you are walking contrary to God’s known plan for humans and are living in sin. And living that way has a severe price tag attached to it – Hell – which is far scarier.

If you are living that way, although you have biological life, you do not have the spiritual life God wants you to have and says you must have to go to Heaven. He wants to forgive your sin (walking contrary to his will) and give you true life from the Holy Spirit. If you are not regenerated by God through what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you, you remain in the congregation of the dead to this day.

I am not talking about reform or obeying a bunch of rules. Those things will not save anyone. Only by asking God for forgiveness and receiving Jesus Christ as your only Savior to give you eternal life can you go from being in the “congregation of the dead” to become a child of God.

The Bible tells us, in John 1:12: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Putting simple faith in Christ to save you can take you from death unto eternal life – He promised it.

If you have never asked Jesus to forgive and save you from your sins and desire to live for Him – will you do it today?

Attitudes everywhere seem to be changing. Things that were once highly respected are now disdained and rejected. Some people are said to be “woke.” The current generation shows little respect for anything – even themselves. Pleasure has become the goal of the day and following one’s own will.

It seems that this godless attitude is even prevalent among many professing believers. Even many lost people in this country once had a “fear of God,” which was sufficient to restrain a lot of evil. Now, it seems that the fear of the Lord is not present – except in a few.

How to define “fear of God”? It is not difficult. Proverbs itself gives us a good idea. The phrase “fear of the LORD” occurs 14 times in the book. Proverbs 16:6 says: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” This verse reveals that it is an attitude that causes men to “depart from evil.”

It is not a fear that causes one to think that God will beat them over the head with a club when you step out of line. Rather, it is a deep-rooted growing love for God and His truth and fellowship with Him that you do not want to disrupt or lose. The joy and peace gained from that fellowship cannot be replaced by anything this world offers – why would anyone want something else? Of course, as Proverbs 16:6 hints – evil (sin) will be forsaken.

Notice another facet of the “fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 19:23 reveals: “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” The “life” promised in this verse is not biological life – but an abundant life that only God can give. Notice also the phrase “shall abide satisfied.” It could also be said they will be content – something that very few people have today.

A third verse says: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4). True wealth is not measured in dollars and cents – which can disappear faster than it comes.

The things worth having, as one grows in the Lord and in the knowledge of Him, will bring the lasting riches, the honor, and the kind of life that is worth having – without regrets.

The fear of God is very much needed today. The first occurrence of the phrase “fear of the Lord” is in Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It reveals that you cannot understand God’s ways or will apart from having the “fear of the Lord.” He wants to teach you many valuable things, but you cannot learn them apart from a right attitude toward sin and God.

The key to eternal life is found in this simple verse. It is plain, but many seem to miss what it says.

In plain English, it says that if you have the Son – if Christ is in you – then you possess eternal life. It does not say that if you hope Christ is in you; or, if you think Christ is in you.

Now, according to the Bible, Christ is not in any one without their personal and conscious decision to invite Him in: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20). To do so, there needs to be a confession of sin and a recognition that without salvation in Christ that you would go to Hell because you deserve it.

The Bible tells us: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It is for this reason that we all need a Savior – there are no exceptions.

Once Christ saves and comes into your life, He will never leave you. He has promised, in Hebrews 13:5: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

The apostle Paul had hoped one day to see the Christians at Rome. He prayed repeatedly that he might see them one day and visit them. Naturally, like any of us, he wanted a “prosperous journey.”

In spite of his desires, Paul allowed God to have His way concerning the journey and what would occur along the way. He willfully submitted the journey and its results to the will of God.

Even the Son of God – the Lord Jesus – needed to ensure that God had His way in His life. Although the flesh could never desire Calvary, in the Garden He prayed: “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36). Thank God that He went through with it and bought our redemption!

God warns us about making our own plans without considering His will. We cannot be faithful servants unless we desire what He wants in our lives – whether we think it pleasant or not, or whether we understand it or not.

James tells us: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).

Remember that God’s will is always best in the long run and it comes without regrets. An important factor in knowing and enjoying His will is found in Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Do you consider His will in your plans? Do you really want His will for your life? God’s will is a package deal and we cannot pick and choose! His rewards are for those that do His will. If you want His will in your life, why not talk to Him about it now?

I want to spend the next few blog posts on the topic – the “will of God.” This is the first in the series.

The text verse today (above) reveals that God does have a will – or plan – for every believer. This is the first verse in the Bible that uses the phrase “will of God.” There are 23 verses that have this phrase in it – all of them are in the New Testament (KJV).

A non-believer in Christ cannot know the will of God, and only an obedient Christian can. Jesus states clearly that doing the “will of God” identifies you as a believer in the eyes of God.

To show the importance of doing the “will of God,” it is significant that the last reference to the “will of God” in the Bible also emphasizes doing it. It is found in I John 2:17: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Knowing it and doing it are two very different things.

The very first thing that someone can do (must do) to obey God’s will is to get saved. Jesus put it this way to those around Him that asked: “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” These people knew that doing God’s work (will) was very important and they even knew much about the Bible, but they put the cart before the horse. They needed to be saved first – have a relationship with God. Jesus answer to them was: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29).

Making sure of your salvation is the first thing. Getting saved is not a “work” that anyone can do. God must do it for you. If you are not sure how, go here.

After you are sure you are saved, you need to start obeying God by doing the basics for believers. They include:

• Get baptism (not for salvation, but to testify you are one of His and want to obey Him)
• Join a local Bible-teaching church (I recommend an independent Baptist church)
• Read your Bible every day and seek to do it (2 or 3 chapters every day)
• Pray daily
• Put away sin with God’s help (get victory)
• Tithe to the local church
• Tell others about Christ and salvation.

Christian, do you remember what the text verse said? If you are saved, then you need to be doing the will of God. If you have not been doing it and are ready to, start by confessing your failure to God, then ask Him to help you do what He wants faithfully. Why not start today?

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