Fear Not, Child of God

[Daily Devotional]

Fear Not, Child of God 

     And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right
hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he
that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and
have the keys of hell and of death. Rev. 1:17, 18.  

     John, exiled upon the Isle of Patmos, . . . hears a voice saying, "I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" (Rev. 1:11). At the sound of the
voice John falls down in astonishment as if dead. He is unable to bear the
sight of the divine glory. But a hand raises John  up, and the voice he
remembers as the voice of his Master. He is strengthened and can endure to
talk with the Lord Jesus.  

     So will it be with the remnant people of God who are scattered-- some
in the mountain fastnesses, some exiled, some pursued, some persecuted. When
the voice of God is heard and the brightness of the glory is revealed, when
the trial is over, the dross removed, they know they are in the presence of
One who has redeemed them by His own blood. Just what Christ was to John in
his exile He will be to His people who are made to feel the hand of
oppression for the faith and testimony of Jesus Christ. . . . These were
driven by the storm and  tempest of persecution to the crevices of the
rocks, but were hiding in the Rock of Ages; and in the fastnesses of the
mountains, in the caves and dens of the earth, the Saviour reveals His
presence and His glory. Yet a little while, and He that is to come will come
and will not tarry. His eyes as a flame of fire penetrate into the
fast-closed dungeons and hunt out the hidden ones, for their names are
written in the Lamb's book of life. These eyes of the Saviour are above us,
around us, noting every difficulty, discerning every danger; and there is no
place where His eyes cannot penetrate, no sorrows and sufferings of His
people where the sympathy of Christ does not reach. . . .   

     The child of God will be terror-stricken at the first sight of the
majesty of Jesus Christ. He feels that he cannot live in His holy presence.
But the word comes to him as to John, "Fear not." Jesus laid His right hand
upon John; He raised him up from his prostrate position. So will He do unto
His loyal, trusting ones.  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 360