A perfect picture

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

A PERFECT PICTURE

Rev 1:12-16

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

NIV

This is an awesome description of our Lord Jesus himself. John being in the Spirit was in the right frame of mind to receive such a visit from Jesus. When we think of the Jewish Menorah we can see the seven golden lampstands that were in the temple in Jerusalem. Could this have any bearing on the fact that even from that time God directed Moses in the furniture of the tabernacle he was thinking of the whole Christian church? How awesome is God. Yet here we have all the symbols which indicate how royal Jesus truly is. While he was on earth in the flesh he appeared to be the most humble of servants showing us the way we should live. But now that he is in his full glory revealing himself to John in the robe of the high priest looking like the ancient of days with the white hair and blazing eyes showing us he can see everything. This may well be the Jesus we will see when we arrive in the heavenly realm at the close of this physical life. We have all the pictures done be the hand of man showing Jesus to be this gentle faced, loving sort of Savior, but here he appears as nothing like we have ever seen him portrayed. Why do men always portray Jesus as this gentle lamb? He is the ancient of days, nothing that was created was created without him. He is the divine most powerful having been given all authority. He will judge the nations, he will stand and open the book of life and determine whose names have not been blotted out. He is shown here as the Most High, someone to fear and tremble at his feet. We teach our children to sing that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so, giving them and us the impression of this kindly mannered Jesus. But we also have to know that he is the one with all power and authority over all things which include us. Here he is not the most humble, but rather the most stable of all with his bronze feet that are purified glowing hot in a furnace. But most radical is his voice and the double edged sword that comes out of his mouth.

Heb 4:12-13

 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

NIV

Although this may have meant that he would judge both the Jews and the Romans in that day, it also means we are at his mercy as well. We would be well to note that we are at his mercy. There is nothing we can ever do to be worthy to stand before our blazing Most High God. We think because we chose to follow him it is because of our faith that we are saved. In some sense that is true, for we are told that it is by faith that we are saved. This implies salvation cannot be achieved by any works. We cannot earn it in anyway other than by faith in Jesus Christ. Yet we really need to see him for who he is, and understand we need to fall face down in complete utter submission to him, relying totally on his mercy. Yet this blazing all powerful Jesus takes the time to come to John and show him all that has to come to pass in the end of days for mankind on the earth. This is also a show of his divine love for us so that we will not be without all the facts concerning what is to happen, but to those who believe and those who have chosen not to believe. So even in his all-powerful appearance to John here, he still shows his concern for his creation. What a perfect picture of Jesus.