Upheld In Amazed Wonder

 

 Imagine a blue and gold sunny day. You are standing on a rocky beach looking far out over the blue waters and enjoying a balmy breeze. The gentle lap of waves on the rocks soothes your soul. It’s one of those days where it feels all is right in the world.

Suddenly you hear this BOOMING voice that sounds like a trumpet in your ear, “I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST…”

You whip around to see a huge Figure standing there with flaming red eyes and white hair, and golden band across a white robed chest. Shiny brass feet poke out from the gown and as He speaks, a two edged sword comes out of His mouth. His face looks like the sun and you throw an arm over your eyes. Lampstands seem to be all over the place even though there are only seven.

What do you do?  John, in Revelation, said he fell before the feet of this Great One as dead. I think I would be on my face pronto, too!

With majesty like this, one would be pretty safe to assume this is a Person of great importance who just might have some authority over my life as well as…well…the world! “I AM HE WHO LIVES, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE. AMEN. AND I HAVE THE KEYS OF HADES AND OF DEATH”.

YIKES!

Guess what happened next? After announcing Himself and scaring John to death, the One who lives laid His right hand on John and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last”.

WOW!

The Old Testament says that no man can see God and live. Yet, Jesus revealed Himself in His glory and majesty to John. Then He reached down where John was prostrate on the ground—even on the rocks of Patmos Island—to tell him not to be afraid.

This is Jesus. Our Beloved. Our Friend. He is God, clothed in glory and majesty. Yet, He is still Jesus, our Savior, who became one of us and is forever moved to tears with His compassion for us.

How safe we are in His love and mercy. How blessed. How wonderful.