There are a number of reasons a healthy, holy, reverential awe (fear) of God create this fountain of life. First, Jesus is the Living Waters that well up within us once we gain salvation (John 7:38). Just as importantly, He is also the bread of life (John 6:35).

But in order to receive salvation, one must come to a point of fearing. Fearing, really? Yes, people come to God when they fear being cast into hell after they leave this life if they do not possess salvation. It is fear that causes us to search, to ask questions, to seek God. It is the fear of judgment or the pouring out of God's wrath on those who do not have salvation.

Once we receive salvation, all fear of judgment is cast out or should be, based on God's Word. So, why would we still need to exhibit a fear of God in any way? Solely due to who God is and the power He wields.

Think of coming into the presence of the president of the United States or another world leader. Whether that person is respected or not is not the issue. We are to have great respect for the office itself and the power that individual wields because of that position.

Does God deserve less respect (reverential fear and awe)? Hardly. He commands far greater respect. There are many examples in Scripture of those who feared His Presence and yet, they were in relationship with God. Their healthy fear of God helped them to live the right way.

Proverbs 14:27 says, "The fear of God is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death." (KJV)

The upside of fearing the Lord is that it produces within us a growing fountain of life and literally keeps us off the path of death. Through a healthy fear of God (again, not of impending judgment), we come to a place where we do not want to dishearten Him. Our preference is that we do not grieve Him in any way, shape or form. Our heart's desire is to do only those things that please Him and bring Him glory. In doing so, we know that we will become more like Him in Jesus.

This should be the goal of every Christian; to have a growing desire to increase that fountain of life and that is only done as we learn how to properly fear God. It starts with our salvation and God's promise to put His fear into our hearts (Jeremiah 32). However, it is clearly our job to cultivate that fear all of our lives.

It will never be an instantaneous growth. It will occur over time. In Job 1, we learn in verse 8 that God considered Job righteous, blameless and that he feared God. Satan was convinced Job did so because God protected him. The horrors Job went through because God allowed Satan to do everything except kill him are seen in the remaining chapters.

By the time we come to the end of the book, we realize that as much as Job may have feared God in the chapter 1, by the 38th chapter, Job clearly feared Him far more so that he all he could do was put his hand over his mouth to keep from saying anything selfish or stupid.