Why is it dangerous not to fear God? Is God cruel? Ought we dread our maker?
The Bible insists that God is good. Is the Bible wrong? No, indeed? God is
good and God is dangerous. In fact, God is dangerous precisely because he is
good. God is so good that he will be entirely impartial on the coming day
when he judges the world.

Many years ago I accompanied to the court a woman being divorced by her
famous husband. The judge sold his soul while we all watched. In order to
serve the interests of the team for whom the husband played, the judge
ignored the facts that favored the wife and ruled for the husband. When God
reopens that case the outcome will be entirely different. Because God is
good and cannot be bribed he will render a righteous judgment. We who
believe ought to live out our days with the reverence and awe of God that
the Bible rightly calls fear. It is this fear of the Lord that is the
beginning of wisdom.