There are healthy fears: first and foremost, what the Bible
calls “fear of the Lord.” This is more than reverence; it is a deeply experienced,
holy awe. It is what moved Moses to cover his face before approaching the burning
bush (cf. Exodus 3:6). It is the recognition of God’s glory, and corresponds
with an awareness of our smallness, and that of all creation, before such
majesty. This fear acknowledges the total dependence of the creature upon the
Creator. It leads one to contemplate the divine love that wishes only good for
such unworthy creatures, and the astounding beauty
and goodness of such a Love.
