When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead —Revelation 1:17
It may be that, like the apostle John, you know Jesus Christ intimately. Yet when He suddenly appears to you with totally unfamiliar characteristics, the only thing you can do is fall “at His feet as dead.” There are times when God cannot reveal Himself in any other way than in His majesty, and it is the awesomeness of the vision which brings you to the delight of despair. You experience this joy in hopelessness, realizing that if you are ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God.
“He laid His right hand on me . . .” (Revelation 1:17). In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again. In the midst of all His ascended glory, the Lord Jesus comes to speak to an insignificant disciple, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet. Do I know Him like that?
Take a look at some of the things that cause despair. There is despair which has no delight, no limits whatsoever, and no hope of anything brighter. But the delight of despair comes when “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells . . .” (Romans 7:18). I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.
5 24 11 Journal DJR
Good Morning, Lord.
I’ve felt pieces of what is described here, peace, assurance, belief that You can do anything and with You nothing can defeat me … but not as often or completely as I would like. What’s a guy to do?
You are not designed to live on a mountaintop all the time. None of my men did. Check it out. Delight in those times. But realize that the valleys and deserts and desperation is where some growth occurs that will let you appreciate the mountain tops.
I have this background sense that it will all be good in the end, even in the bad times. But I wish it was stronger and more dominant in my thinking as I go thru my days.
Walking with me, consciously, will amplify that sense. Many times I’m walking with you and seem distracted by “problems” and go running off to solve them yourself.
Guilty as charged.
I realize that you need to eat and sleep and make tents and solve problems. But I will go with you thru all of that if you let me. If you want to handle the tough stuff on your own and forget about me until you get out the other side … I’ll be there waiting for you. As always. But it wont be as much fun, you’ll give yourself ulcers, and we’ll miss out on a lot.
You’re right. Like the man said, “Lord, I believe, Help my unbelief” I want to be conscious of you every minute of the day like you did.
John 5:19 … the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing,
From looking at my track record, this tight a communication seems impossible. Oh yeah, that’s where you come in ….. I really do need you
Now you’re getting it.
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