To be fearful in the presence of God seems to be a natural human reaction. But believers never have to be afraid of Him!
Matthew 17:5-7 (NKJV) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
When God the Father spoke from the cloud, the disciples who were with Jesus were terrified. Jesus told them, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
That’s a pattern that we often see in Scripture. Whenever someone finds himself in the presence of God, the immediate reaction is fear. And the Lord, through an angel or speaking directly, has to reassure them – “do not be afraid.”
For disciples there is never any reason to be afraid of God! His purpose is not to hurt us but to bless us. The disciples felt comfortable in the presence of Jesus. He spoke of Himself as the Son of Man, identifying with us. He is still the Mediator between God and man. We can be comfortable and unafraid because we are in Him.
God is awesome – and to be in His presence should be an awe-filled experience. We should never forget or neglect the awe that is the proper response to His awesomeness. But Jesus, by the blood He shed on the cross, won for us the right to enter confidently into the presence of the Father, not as groveling supplicants, but as His beloved children.
We need never be afraid in the presence of our Father.
Ron Franklin
