The First and the Last

"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last." -Revelation 1:17

Much has been said about the proper reverence we must have for God as our heavenly Father. We know the necessity of a properly held fear of the Lord, that is very similar to the respect we demonstrate towards our earthly parents. But in our reverence toward God there is no terror. Let's not forget that the third person of our God is the Comforter. So He, the comforter - parakletos - is present with John in the midst of his very real, albeit momentary, fear. He extends the right hand of blessing and implores, "do not be afraid." The remainder of Christ's exhortation, "I am the first and the last," demolishes any fear held in our finite existence. We are blessed by the almighty, eternal God who urges us to find peace in HIS everlasting nature.