I have heard people from time to time talk about what they will do when they meet Jesus. Many of them reference their "friend" relationship, or their "Father/son" relationship, or even their "brother" relationship, and that is not entirely without Biblical foundation.  "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15); "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Gal. 4:7); and "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35).  The Lord Himself has offered us His Hand in these relationships, and we are told that we can come "boldly before the throne of grace" to receive mercy and grace in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).  However, I have a hard time visualizing  anyone as they come into His presence (as I have heard some say) running up to Jesus and throwing their arms around His neck or even giving Him a "high five."

As fun as that may be to imagine (remember the song), the same spirit within us that cries "Abba Father" must also acknowledge Him for who He is--GOD, Creator, Master, the Great I AM.  The fear of the Lord in Proverbs 1:7 is reverence. God is Holy, and we must reverence Him whenever, wherever we approach Him. The true meaning of coming boldly before the throne of grace is that we come with frankness, bluntness, honesty, because all is revealed before Him. He knows everything about us, yet we are invited to come.  Jesus instructed ,"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28).  This doesn't mean to be afraid of the devil--we are not to fear the devil because he doesn't have the power to condemn us to hell.  Jesus is telling us to "be in awe of" and to "reverence" God Who determines our eternal destination--not man and certainly not satan!

The gospel of John relates the story of the arrest of Jesus: "Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, 'What is it you want?' 'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground" (18:2-6).  Interesting! Here we have Jesus and His sleeping friends in the dark.  Approaching them are the armed soldiers of the temple guard with torches, lanterns and weapons, and as soon as Jesus speaks the words "I am he," they step back and FALL TO THE GROUND.  This is even more incredible when we realize that in the KJV translation, words added to the text to make it grammatically correct are italicised, and Jesus answer is written, "I am he." What Jesus actually answered the soldiers was "I AM."  He revealed Himself to them in the garden, and in speaking His Holy Name, the great I AM, those who had come to arrest Him could not stay on their feet, but fell to the ground!  Does Paul not tell us "Therefore God exalted [Christ] to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus gave Himself to them--they could not take Him!

One day, all creation will fall down before Him in dreadful reverence as He is revealed in all His glory.  The way of knowledge and the way of wisdom is to fall before Him now and give Him the honor and reverence only He deserves, and acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior, raised from the dead and victorious over sin and death! Then on that glorious day, Christ, Himself, will lift you up as friend and joint-heir to share in His inheritance forever and ever.

"Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, oh, Thou of God and man the Son," speak more deeply to my spirit that I may know You more fully, and help me to honor and reverence You in all that I say and do. Amen


1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.