UNCLEAN BY COMPARISON

By A. W. Tozer
 

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
                                                 Revelation 1:17

  In the Old Testament, whenever the living God revealed
Himself in  some  way  to  humankind,  terror  and
amazement were the reactions.  People saw themselves as
guilty and unclean by comparison!

  In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John describes
the overwhelming nature of his encounter with the Lord
of glory.  Although a believer and an apostle, John sank
down in abject humility and fear when the risen, glorified
Lord Jesus appeared before him on Patmos.

  Our glorified Lord did not condemn John.  He knew that
John's weakness was the reaction to revealed divine
strength.  He knew that John's sense of unworthiness was
the instant reaction to absolute holiness.  Along with John,
every redeemed human being needs the humility of spirit
that can only be brought about by the manifest Presence
of God.

 Jesus at once reassured John, stooping to place a
nail-pierced hand on the prostrate apostle, and saying:
"Do not be afraid.  I am the Living One.  I was dead, and
behold I am alive for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of
death and hades."

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Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.