Have you ever watched the distant sky during a lightning storm? Lightning is beautiful, yet it can be frightening. It lights up the whole sky, yet for only a few seconds at a time. When lightning strikes the ground, it can cause a lot of destruction. Its strikes have no set pattern;, they are totally random.
His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning . . . (Daniel 10:6 NIV).
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:27 NIV).
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow (Matthew 28:3 NIV).
Whether He appears “as lightning” or causes lightning to strike, only God can control the lightning.
When I watch lightning, I enjoy the awe factor, but it would frighten me if I were to get too close.
We need to be in awe of God, but we also need to fear Him.
Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name (Deuteronomy 6:13 NIV).
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13 NIV).
. . . and he will delight in the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:3 NIV).
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28 ESV).
Just like I am in awe of lightning, I am always in awe of God. I also have fear . . . but God will take away that fear.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).
Debbie Mitchell