John saw Christ in all His glory and fell like a dead man because of it. I can’t fathom His full glory with this hindered mind. John couldn’t either. In fact, he couldn’t stand in midst of it. I do, however, know that when we see Him, really see Him, we see nothing of ourselves!
I imagine that John, in exile on Patmos, passed his days pondering the past. Certainly Jesus had given him reason to marvel. He talked with Him, sat beside Him, fished with Him, ate with Him, gave all to follow Him. He sat as Christ washed his feet and then watched soon after His blood stain the cross. He shouted over an empty tomb and a Risen Savior. And he most certainly stood, fixated, when Jesus ascended. With all of that, John certainly found himself lost in the all of Christ he had known and seen.
Why then does His falling at the feet of Jesus in Revelation 1:17 grip me so? Because this time, this time, He saw Christ in all His glory, fully God! Can you fathom it? (I know your answer, friend, because I can't either!)
I think it vital to note that, in light of our discussion in class Sunday, John fell like a dead man, but Jesus responded! He didn’t leave him there. Rather He reached out, touched him, and told him not to fear! I love it, for we can’t be all He wants us to be until we give Him rightful place. Then and only then will He raise us up in strength not our own. Then and only then can we make Him marvel, not that we are anything in ourselves but that He is everything in us!
We talked about perspective, specifically on whom and what our paradigms focus. We are so easily convinced we are what circumstance dictates, what life dishes, what culture demands – How much better would we be should we get that it is He in us that makes all the difference?!
Lisa was sharing with me the other day a quote. I don’t know the title of the book or the specific wording, still the idea stuck: There is a vast difference between a perspective that says I have Jesus and one that says Jesus has me! With that stuck in my brain and working on my heart, Les mentioned a verse so compatable. I knew then I would be writing to you.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20
An admitted grammar geek, I notice parts of speech and specific sentence structure. I highlighted for you above the change in subject, from I to Christ. Do you see? The one who does the living in us is HE! When we fully yield our lives, when we no longer, in any way, view life about us, when it is rather, in every way, about Him, our I have Jesus gloriously changes to Jesus has me!
That is everything I want and exactly the shift in paradigm I need! I have gotten it wrong enough to know that putting my focus anywhere else leaves me drowning in waves much smaller than they seem, buffeted by winds drowning out all He is trying to make me see. He is living through me. How much better off would I be if I simply rested in knowing He was in the boat with me? If I do that, really do that, fully yielded and totally willing, I can’t help but come away changed. And He can’t help but amaze me!
It’s true that one day we shall behold Him in all His glory. All we once thought mattered will fade as we, stunned just as John, fall before His feet. Until that day comes and He calls us home, the only thing we should be lost in is Him. After all, HIS GLORY demands response. And Jesus, well, He has me. That alone makes all the difference...
It’s true that one day we shall behold Him in all His glory. All we once thought mattered will fade as we, stunned just as John, fall before His feet. Until that day comes and He calls us home, the only thing we should be lost in is Him. After all, HIS GLORY demands response. And Jesus, well, He has me. That alone makes all the difference...
Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love!
Blessings to you,
Andrea
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