His Own Father

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Here is a boy dressed up like a knight of ancient times. It makes me think of a story about a little boy whose father was a soldier in those times. His father wore a coat of heavy armor and a shining helmet upon his head.
One day when his father was going away to war, his mother took their little boy up in her arms to kiss his father good-bye. The little lad had never seen his father dressed that way before, and he cried out with fright. His father then took off his shining helmet, and when the little boy saw that it was his own father he kissed him again and again.
This story makes us think of the time when John saw the Lord Jesus as the Judge. He says, “His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters... and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” Revelation 1:14-1614His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:14‑16).
John was so afraid that he fell at the feet of the Lord Jesus as dead, but the Lord Jesus put His hand upon him and said, “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.” Revelation 1:17, 1817And 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: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18).
What a terrible thing it would be to meet the Lord Jesus as a judge! And yet if you are still in your sins, dear reader, that is the way you will meet Him, for the Bible says He is “ready to judge the quick (living) and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:55Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5).
But He does not want to be your judge—He wants to be your Saviour. He is the One who died, as He said to John, and now He is alive forevermore. He died for our sins, so that He might be able to say to all who believe, “Fear not.” He is not only able, but willing to save you. God is holy and cannot pass over sin, but the “sword” of God’s judgment fell upon the Lord Jesus, and now He stands before you as a Saviour, with a spear-pierced side, waiting to bless you. But do not forget that if you do not receive Him as your Saviour, you will surely meet Him as your judge, and then He will have to say to you those awful words, “DEPART FROM ME, YE CURSED, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS.” — Matthew 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41).
ML 12/26/1954