This passage, among many in the Bible, is a very vivid and clear revelation of who our God is. He is the One who is among, or, in the NASB - "in the middle of", the lampstands, a symbol of local churches. Here is the grace and blessing of God for local churches, that He is among, in the middle of them.
Sadly, though, we may miss this. What happens when a local church, the communion of believers, recognizes the presence of the Most High God in the middle of them? The description of God gives us an idea of what we will "see":
Dressed in a robe, with a golden sash around His chest - we are before our King.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow - His holiness is revealed.
His eyes are like blazing fire - He is the One who sees all things, nothing is hidden from His sight.
His feet like bronze glowing in a furnace - He is firm and strong.
His voice like the sound of rushing waters - it is impossible not to hear it, a thundering voice
Out of His mouth comes a two edged sword - His word penetrating our hearts
His face like the sun, shining in its brilliance - He is too holy to be looked at, to stare at...impossible.
Now look at the apostle John's response: (17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
I don't think there is any believer who, humanly speaking, can even compare himself/herself with the apostle John. He was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was at the foot of the cross when Christ died. You would think he would be ecstatic, jump for joy, at the sight of His God.
But no. He fell at His feet as though dead.
This is what the presence of God initially does. Our King, holy, mighty, from whom nothing is hidden, firm and strong, who, with a thundering voice, speaks with a two edged sword penetrating our hearts, shining brightly as the sun...there is no way for any one of us to be able to stand before such a magnificent, exalted One.
Oh, for every heart to bow in fear and holy awe before our holy and righteous One. There is no other way to respond to such a great revelation of our God to our hearts.
Every time we sense His presence in our hearts, this is what His holiness and majesty moves our heart to do - fall at His feet as if dead. This is the foundation of true worship. This is how every heart should respond to our great and holy God. We don't have to imagine what to do. This should be the initial position, or posture, of our hearts.
The truth is, standing before a holy God, we should die.
But then, something beautiful happens to John:
Revelation 1:17-18 ... And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, (18) and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
There, clearly shown us, is His grace. His right hand touching us, and His voice speaking - "do not be afraid".
This is what every true believer enjoys with Christ. With Christ at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, He gives us the access to the Father's presence. It is only in Christ that God our Father can reach out His right hand and tell us not to be afraid.
It is only because of Jesus that we can stand before God.
This is why, after falling before Him as if dead, John was able to stand and listen to the words of God spoken to Him.
And this is why, we, after initially responding in awe and fear, falling before Him as if dead, can now also stand before God our Father, and pray, fellowship with Him, sing and worship, and just sit confidently in His presence. It is through Christ that the Father tells us "Do not be afraid".
Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need
This is why we can pray. This is why we can fellowship with God. This is why we sing, praise and worship, our God. All because of grace, poured out upon us through Jesus Christ.
But it all begins with falling before Him...as if dead.
It all begins with the right posture of the heart.
We bow down, we lay our crowns, we fall before the King, holy and mighty.
But, because of Christ, we stand, we sit, we pray, we sing, we fellowship with Him.
What a humble and gracious privilege given us.
May every local church keep this in heart and mind.
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