Read: 1 John 2:23
In Revelation 4:2 & 5, the apostle John paints a terrifying picture of God the Father sitting on His throne in heaven.
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
It’s been said that it’s terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God. We call our creator God “Father,” and He is that. Yet in our sin, we cannot stand before Him and His wrath born from His perfect justice. Because He cannot deny His just character, in His love for us, He became human so we could come to Him to confess our sins without being destroyed and receive the forgiveness only He can give.
Knowing this, any other way to salvation is ludicrous and pathetic. Other paths may sound wise but are deceptions of Satan to misdirect people away from the Father through His essence in His Son.
Scripture reads in many places, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and commentators note we should read “fear” as “awe.” Having a hint of God on His throne through John’s vision, perhaps it is wise to be terrified first and then fall on our knees in awe. Jesus the Savior is the same as Jesus the Judge who is to come.
Father God, thank you for tenderly loving us through Your incarnation so we can approach You to experience Your love and mercy. You could rightly have left us in our sin, but instead, You embrace us in Your love through Your Son, Jesus, the only way to You. Glory and praise to You, Almighty God!
