Cheon Seong Gyeong 1147
Eve became the mother of two worlds. She came to stand in a midway position in between good and evil. Then, who must decide whether to follow the direction of good or evil? A person himself or herself must decide. In order to do so, one must crush evil and Satan and cling to God. One must cling to God with a power several times stronger than the power he or she uses to strike Satan. In order to strike evil you must exert all your strength. At the same time, you must cling to God with even greater force. (31-18, 1970.4.8)
Cheon Seong Gyeong 707
Scholars or presidents are no exception. The way of indemnity is one that must be sought, not taught. You must seek it yourselves. Those who do not do this will go to hell. You must understand that the chains of hell are hooked all over your eyes, your nose, and your thoughts. This is not a threat; it is simply that indemnity is needed to reverse the Fall.
It is so difficult to erase ink from a white sheet of paper. What Satan wrote is more difficult to erase than ink. If you wish to erase it, you must be revived after dying. Realize that “although you have the name of being alive, yet you are dead.” As long as hooks remain within you, Satan will claim you as his. Thus, Jesus stated: “Those who seek to die will live, and those who seek to live will die.” (129-183, 1983.10.30)
The Fear of God
THE FEAR OF GOD IS A POSITIVE emotion because it directs us away from harmful things and propels us to do what is right. People who lack the fear of God more readily commit sin, as they do not fear God’s punishment. Having denied the existence of God they justify themselves, often with one of the modern ideologies which says that the moral rules of religion are fetters to be broken in the name of individual freedom. Yet as Father Moon explains, ever since the Human Fall fear has become a negative emotion, one that can lead to all kinds of self-centered behavior when it dominates our thinking.
The higher dimensions of holy fear—reverence and awe—should pervade our worship and guide our steps in life. They keep us mindful that our life and the purpose of our existence is not our own doing, but from God. They also contribute to our sense of meaning and value, as servants of the King and hence partakers in His glory.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 9.11
O you who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of submission.
Qur’an 3.102
May your fear of Heaven be as strong as your fear of man!
Talmud, Berakot 28b (Judaism)
Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8.12-1313
God has revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, [with promises of reward] paired [with threats of punishment], at which creeps the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to God’s reminder. Such is God’s guidance, with which He guides whom He will.
Qur’an 39.23
Monks, two bright things guard the world: shame and fear of blame. If these two bright things did not guard the world… the world would fall into promiscuity, as is the case with goats, sheep, poultry, pigs, dogs, and jackals.
Itivuttaka 36 (Buddhism)
Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come.
Revelation 14.7
When the Israelites saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore, and saw the great power which the Lord had put forth against Egypt, the people were in awe of the Lord and put their faith in him and in Moses his servant.
Exodus 14.30-31
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Romans 3.14-19
Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon
The reason why people who believe in God continue to commit sins is because their faith in God has been merely conceptual. It has not touched their innermost feelings. Who among them would ever dare to commit sin if they experienced God in the depths of their being? Would they not tremble if they felt the reality of the heavenly law that those who commit crimes cannot escape the destiny of hell? (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Introduction)
Today, we are reaping the consequences of the Fall: Immorality is rampant. Teenagers, in particular, are the victims of widespread sexual degradation. The advanced nations are little different from Sodom and Gomorrah of biblical times. God abhors this immoral behavior. We must fear the wrath of God. His punishment is imminent. (201:206-07, April 19, 1990)
[After she fell] Eve realized that according to God’s heavenly law, Adam was supposed to be her husband. Thus she thought then if she returned to Adam’s bosom, she could escape the fear of God. Centering on Satan’s love, fear and independence conspired together to bring Adam to his knees. Fear and self-insistence has continued ever since to dominate the fallen human race. Now in the last days, the way of individualism has become dominant throughout the world and is ruining the world. (256:230, March 13, 1994)
At least Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden felt shame enough to conceal their naked bodies with fig leaves, but American young people these days feel no shame, doing all manner of indecent behavior even outdoors in city parks. Because Adam and Eve felt a sense of shame over what they did, they could repent. But these young people are shameless; they are far from repentful. (95:149, November 11, 1977)