While he was yet speaking, look! A bright cloud overshadowed them, and, look! A voice out of the cloud, saying: ¨This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him.¨ Matthew 17:5 (Reference Bible)
When Peter, James and John witnessed this phenomenon, they threw themselves face down on the ground in fear. (Verse 6)
What happened? They had just been watching one of the most amazing occurrences in documented history. They had seen Jesus, a man, turn from a normal human being into a glorious shining being. He had been approached by two men who had been long since dead, and yet they were there somehow mysteriously and were conversing with Jesus. Completely and utterly amazing things they had seen, but nothing prepared them for this incredible cloud that engulfed them.
Then came that voice, the most powerful force in the universe and it boomed over them and frightened them to the core. So terrifying it was for them that it brought them to the ground.
It should go without saying that whatever encounter a person may have with his or her Creator would leave that person completely overwhelmed. When God moves in power in the area of our conscious reality, something of His size and power is revealed. And this is always greater than we are prepared for.
As we try to assimilate the marvelous situation and the shifting of fixed points in our universe, we come up short. Somewhere in our mental capacities we reach a point where we cannot go further. Beyond this point is where our God dwells. He is always bigger. God is always more impressive than our wildest imaginings or most creative thoughts.
Most of like to think of God as a loving Father and we bolster up our courage and think big of ourselves. We imagine that we will be so familiar with this God that loves us and has worked so closely to bring us once again to Him. Rarely, if ever, do we stop to contemplate just what that might entail.
Mortal man, even after all the righteous clothing that Jesus provides for us, will for sure see in an instant his own unworthiness when actually confronted by the All Powerful and Righteous One. If all of a sudden that glorious cloud of light were to come over us today, even the strongest of souls would be painfully aware of its lack of worth.
Mankind has sold itself into slavery unto sin and misplaced God from His rightful seat of authority over us. Only One who has worn the body of flesh has proved worthy since the creation of man until today.
If the gap that separates fallen man from the immense and powerful presence of God, then what hope have we got? How can we possibly hope to stand in that presence?
In the story of Peter, James and John, when their moment of terror overtook them and they realized what an awful and terrible state they were in, there came a sweet voice of comfort. Just when they might have felt that it was all over for them and they would expire, the words of Jesus came to them. They felt a gentle touch and that familiar voice of their Savior telling them it would be OK, that He was there with them.
Dear Lord, please remove any illusions we may have over our ability to stand on our own on that day. Prepare us to be overwhelmed with the magnitude of your power and grace. But most of all, draw us near to Jesus. In Him we will find hope to stand. In Him the terrible experience of wiping away our known reality will somehow be bearable as we realize the size and strength of God Almighty. With His touch and His voice to comfort us, we will live on to gaze at the Wonder that is our God.
Amen
Searching For Christ 
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