Approaching Christ

Revelation 1:17 when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 And the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys to death and Hades."

How do we approach Christ? Is he fearful to approach?

The above passage was an John's account of his encounter with the unveiled Glory of Christ. John, who referred to himself as "The one whom Jesus loved" was exceptionally tight with Christ. He was part of the "inner circle of 3 disciples", and Christ appointed John to care for Mary His mother. They were intimate as it gets, yet when John bumps into Him what happens? His natural reflex is to drop down at His feet as though dead. I think that a healthy fear of His own flesh in stark contrast to the unbridled Glory of God is what caused John to drop and tremble at His feet.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the honored privilege to teach the men of Togoville , Africa. in this shed that was hot, God was worshipped. As I mentioned, they don't even think of doing a study without breaking a sweat in worship followed by quiet confession to meet their maker. One of the greater convictions that I have had in some time came on the last day of my teaching. After I finished, I sat down and began to pray. The men started all talking in their tribal dialect of ewe (pronounced a-way). I was deep in prayer rejoicefully thanking Him for a great week of worship when papa, one of the guys, poked me and motioned for me to stand up. I reactively did stand up and continued to pray head down with hands clasped in front. Ten seconds later papa again poked me and "suggested" with his eyes and hands that I raise my hands to a point of surrender. I did so. The words of the men echoed through the little shed as I prayed to God.

After we were finished I pieced together what had happened. The men had entered a time of confession. They had entered a time of surrender unto Christ. I later found out that in their Church when they speak of surrender they think it offends God if you don't show it in every physical and spiritually way possible. What a novel thought!

As I walked down the dirt roads later that day, I thought about the strong convictions of how those men approached God. Papa was more worried that my actions might offend God than His actions would offend me. Isn't that the essence of making disciples. Isn't that how we should act? Contrast that to our Churches in America. We have invented a way of doing Church so that no one is offended who comes. Who is being catered to in that scenario? Does anyone care that God might be offended? If not who is the center of the worship picture? We are. Many will say, "that sounds legalistic, you don't have to raise your hands to please God". I would answer that Christ doesn't receive us any other way accept fully surrendered.

It was an honor to worship with these brothers whose souls did not tread lightly on the riches of Christ. They did not haphazardly or casually approach Him, and they were bent on not allowing anyone else to either. I thank Him and them for their faithfulness and training me in righteousness. I believe that those of us on this side of teh Atlantic have MUCH to learn from our impoverished, undereducated brothers and sisters in Togoville.

How do you approach Christ? Casually and conveniently? Quite frankly, you will have a hard time finding anyone in the bible who is of faith that relates to the most high God that way. Think it through and ask God to show you Himself and your sin before Him. Praise Him for His grace.