THE RISEN LORD

His head and his hairs
were white like wool,
as white as snow;
and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass,
as if they burned in a furnace;
and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Revelation 1:14 – 15

At times, it is tempting to conclude: “If only I could have walked with Jesus, as the twelve disciples did, it would be so much easier to live the Christian life!” This thought reveals that we do not comprehend the greatness of the risen Christ we serve today.

The Jesus of the Gospels is often portrayed as One who walked along the seashore, loving children and gently forgiving sinners. Yet the image of Jesus that we see at the close of the New Testament is far more dramatic! He stands in awesome power as He rules all creation. His appearance is so magnificent that when John, his beloved disciple, sees Him, he falls to the ground as though he were dead (Rev 1:17).

We grossly underestimate the God we serve! To ignore God’s word, or to disobey a direct command from Him, is to ignore the magnificent nature of Christ. Our fear of other people proves that we do not understand the awesome Lord who walks with us. The Christ we serve today is the Lord of all creation. He is vastly more awesome and powerful than the gentle rabbi we often imagine.

If you struggle with your obedience to Christ, take a closer look at how He is portrayed in the Book of Revelation. If you are succumbing to temptation, pray now and call upon the powerful One who dwells in you. If you have forgotten how great and mighty the Lord is, pray now and envision the Lord as John saw Him. Thank God for opening your eyes to His power and His magnificence.

Source “Experiencing God Day-By-Day; The Devotional and Journal”, by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby ©1997. Entry April 3.