“…And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid his right hand upon me…” Revelation 1:17
Dear Ones:
We need to ask the question: “Why does God throughout Scripture reveal Himself in different ways to different individuals?” For example, to Moses He revealed Himself in a burning bush. To Joshua He will revealed Himself as the “Man with the drawn sword.” To John the Apostle, He reveals Himself as the glorified Christ, whose “head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire…out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was like the sun shines in his strength.” (Rev. 1:15-16) In every one of these examples it is evident that He reveals Himself, first of all, to seize the attention of the beholder. But there is another very important reason. He does so in order to evoke faith from the heart of the believer, who finds himself, or herself, in a specific context with a specific purpose. The Lord’s objective is always the same, to see the believer “OVERCOME” all that would hinder him from doing the will of God, and glorifying God, and this, by the faith that He gives in response to the vision.
In the Swiss Alps there is a summit called “The Schilthorn.” As one makes his way to the top of this summit, primarily by cable car, one arrives at a look-out vantage point that is quite extraordinary. As one looks over the crests of the summits of many of the alps, snow covered, their majestic and magnificent beauty, are overwhelming to behold. In one of the retaining walls at the summit, there has been embedded a plaque. You look down at the plaque, and then look up and over the four or five foot high wall. The plaque reads: “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgement is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Rev. 14:7) The vision of the Alps is overwhelmingly powerful and beautiful, and when one reads what is written on this plaque, the real significance of the majestic sight is truly revealed. We look upon that which we see with our naked eye…and are moved with amazement. What about the silent presence of the One who made heaven, earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters? The call of God, corresponding to the vision, is: “Fear God, and give glory to Him: for the hour of His judgement is come; and worship Him…” The vision is given to bring us to faith, that by our worship of our Maker and Redeemer, we can overcome in this life, reign in this life, to stand before Him one day clothed in His righteousness, His beauty, His completeness and holiness, for His glory.
Dear Father, open our eyes to see Thee according to that which is essential to our faith, that believing, and obeying, we too will overcome every obstacle to see, “….Thy name hallowed, Thy kingdom come, and Thy will done.” Overwhelm us with the sight of Thee, so that everything else will take its proper place, and we shall truly honor and glorify Thee by believing Thee for the full outworking of Thy purposes in and through us, and others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad