I was afraid

because I was naked. In fear, Adam hide from God (Genesis 3:9). There is a healthy kind of fear, fear that leads us to be cautious in the face of danger.  It is this same kind of fear that helps us to choose the good, we won't get in trouble. In speaking about governing authorities Paul suggests that rulers are not a terror to those who do good, but to those who do evil. It's not absolute, because we should obey God rather than man (Romans 13:3; Acts 14:9). It became clear,  soon after I decided to follow the Lord,  that most of my good behaviour was about not getting into trouble,  not because I was basically good (Galatians 6:7).  

It's the healthy kind of fear that's meant in Psalms 111:10 and 33:18.  They read  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy.” Part of what is being said here, is that His commandments are there for our provision and our protection. He is good  (Luke 18:19), and His plan for us is that we live in the fullness of life.  And a little too late, the fear that Adam was feeling,  was part of the death that was automatically set in motion when he obeyed the serpent rather than God (John 10:10; Romans 8:13).  But there is another kind of fear, a fear that debilitates us.  Now both Hebrew and Greek have but a single word for both types.  But  which it is,  is clear from the context, i.e.  fear of the Lord vs.  fear of man.

When we live our lives in the protective armour of God,  we don't need to fear. That does not mean we won't struggle with it (Ephesians 6:10-18). Over and over we are commanded not to fear in this second sense. We don't need to fear, because the Lord is with us, and the angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them (i.e. Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 34:7).  

In fact it is the first kind of fear that in meant in these next couple of verses.  “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment. But he who fears  (punishment) has not been made perfect in love”  (1 John 4:17, 18). The fear spoken in this verses then, is Adam's fear,  the fear of punishment. When Jesus' love has been fully perfected in us, we are indeed like Him, even while we are still in the world. The point is that His practical and tangible love has the power to transform us into His likeness. We are also being transformed by the renewing of our minds. And part of this is our experience of the security of His love when we embrace the fact that there is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:2; 8:1). It is, of course a process!

Father, this is awesome Lord. To fear You is the beginning of wisdom.  But the more we embrace Your love and Your truth, the more we become like You. Fear diminishes,  confidence for Judgement day increases,  and we walk more and more in fullness of life.  You are good Lord,  You are love, and Your Mercy endures forever! We praise You in Jesus Name Amen