Just imagine!

When I saw [God’s glory], I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. – Ezekiel 1:28

What will it be like when we see the Lord for the first time? The song "I Can Only Imagine" asks,

Surrounded by Your glory,
what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You, Jesus,
or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence,
or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine!

Ezekiel was a priest among the Jewish exiles in Babylon and had visions of the Lord (see chapters 1, 8, 10-11). He described God’s presence as "the appearance of fire with brightness all around," "the color of amber," and like "a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day." Ezekiel’s reaction was to fall on his face before Him and to listen to His instructions (1:27-28).

The apostle John also saw a vision of God’s presence. He may have been Jesus’ closest friend here on earth. At the Last Supper, prior to the crucifixion, we read that John was "leaning on Jesus’ bosom" (John 13:23). Yet when John saw a vision of the Son of God in all His glory and power, he had the same reaction Ezekiel had, and "fell at His feet as dead" (Revelation 1:10-17).

We cannot comprehend how brilliant and awesome the Lord’s glory is, so we can’t be sure of how we’ll respond when one day we’re in His presence. Will we dance or be still? Will we stand in awe or fall to our knees? Will we sing or not be able to speak at all? Just imagine! – Anne Cetas

READ: Ezekiel 1:1-5.,22-28

Now we see Jesus in the Bible, but then, face to face.

The Bible in one year:

• Ezekiel 42-44
• 1 John 1