“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right Hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not; I am the First and the Last. I am He that lives and was dead—and, behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen—and have the keys of hell and of death’.”
Revelation 1:17-18
When we realize Who He is and what He has done, we can only cry “O wretched man that I am” (Rom. 7:24) and “Be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk. 18:13)—and then spend the rest of our lives in surrendered service to Him.
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.”
That’s how the Apostle John felt that day when he “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10) on the isle of Patmos. Although, according to Fox’s Book of Martyrs, they’d tried to kill him by dropping him in a cauldron of boiling oil and the Lord delivered him, the Romans had exiled him to this tiny island that lies off the southwest coast of modern-day Turkey. And, it was there the God of Abraham gave him this vision or The Revelation that is both so intriguing and inspiring at the same time.
His description of the “Son of Man” (Jesus’ favorite designation of Himself) in vv.12-16 cause us to catch our breath. And, like John, we, too, feel like “falling down at His feet as one dead.” Such is always the case when we “see the Lord high and lifted up” (Is. 6:1) and hear Heaven’s celestial throng crying “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts” (Is. 6:3).
Yet, like Isaiah, to whom the Lord dispatched a seraphim from the Heavenly altar to “touch his lips and say ‘Your iniquity is taken away and your sin purged’” (v.6), so has the Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son from Heaven to die on the Cross for us so we, too, could be forgiven, cleansed, pardoned and adopted forever. Hallelujah!!
Even now, this One “Who was dead, but is now alive forevermore” says to each one who believes, “Fear not.” What precious words are these! In your time of doubt, “Fear not.” In your moments of uncertainty and anxiety, “Fear not.” When others misunderstand you or abuse you or forsake you, “Fear not—for I am with you.” Glory!!
And, to those comforting words He adds “I am the First and the Last. I am God’s great Amen (‘so be it’—II Cor. 1:20). And, in My Hands I hold the keys of hell and of death,” which He took back from the devil when He arose from the grave on that first Easter morning.
Doesn’t that comfort your heart and thrill your soul, Pilgrim? Aren’t you glad to know that the One Who conquered death and the grave is “alive forevermore” and there’s nothing you’ll ever face in life that He can’t handle?
Why not spend a few moments right now thanking Him for loving you and promising to “never leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5b)? He is that “Friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24) and “a very Present Help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). So, allow Him to hold you close to His heart right now as “you cast on Him all your cares, knowing that He cares for you” (I Pet. 5:7).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated October 21, 2010
