UNCLEAN BY COMPARISON

    By A. W. Tozer
 

    And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
                                                     Revelation 1:17

      In the Old Testament, whenever the living God revealed
    Himself in  some  way  to  humankind,  terror  and
    amazement were the reactions.  People saw themselves as
    guilty and unclean by comparison!

      In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John describes
    the overwhelming nature of his encounter with the Lord
    of glory.  Although a believer and an apostle, John sank
    down in abject humility and fear when the risen, glorified
    Lord Jesus appeared before him on Patmos.

      Our glorified Lord did not condemn John.  He knew that
    John's weakness was the reaction to revealed divine
    strength.  He knew that John's sense of unworthiness was
    the instant reaction to absolute holiness.  Along with John,
    every redeemed human being needs the humility of spirit
    that can only be brought about by the manifest Presence
    of God.

     Jesus at once reassured John, stooping to place a
    nail-pierced hand on the prostrate apostle, and saying:
    "Do not be afraid.  I am the Living One.  I was dead, and
    behold I am alive for ever and ever, and I hold the keys of
    death and hades."

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    Yours in Christ,
    Paul N. F.