How Will You Fall Down?

February 2025 – Grace & Truth Magazine

How Will You Fall Down?

Being presented with the greatness and glory of God seen in the Lord Jesus, one has no other option than to fall down before Him. We may be reminded of the men who came with weapons to arrest the Son of God. “Jesus … knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’” (Jn. 18:4-5 NKJV ). When He presented Himself to them as the “I am” (v.5, see Ex. 3:14), the men, consisting of “a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees … drew back and fell to the ground” (Jn. 18:3,6).

In Revelation 1:17 we read of how the apostle John, who had been so faithful to the Lord that earthly rulers exiled him, upon seeing the glories of the Son of Man, “fell at His feet as dead.” The greatness of the Lord is so awesome that it overwhelms unbeliever and believer alike. However, in Revelation where we see the Lord as Judge, God’s grace reaches to the believer. John wrote: “He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid’” (v.17).

Philippians 2:9-11 tells us, “God … has highly exalted Him [Christ Jesus] and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” His exaltation is here described as a result of His coming as Man, humbling Himself to “even the death of the cross” (v.8), which was for you and me.

We will all appear before the Lord Jesus, and we will all fall down before Him as we see aspects of His great glory, which is found in no one else. Will you be there in fear as an unbeliever, knowing that all you have heard of God’s eternal judgment against you is now certain – that there is no hope for you? Or will you be bowing before Him in worship, knowing that in His death on the cross He bore all of God’s judgment for you, and that His perfect love has for you cast out all fear (1 Jn. 4:18)?

How do you answer these most important questions?

By Paul Alberts