Dazzled!

Have you ever been dazzled? I am not sure too many people on this earth have ever been dazzled the way the Peter, James and John were one day. Matthew 17 and Mark 9 tell us that it started out as an ordinary mountain hike. A journey to find some time alone...away from the busy pace of life...away from the demands of people! Have you ever been there? Has Jesus ever taken you to a place like this? Maybe you went reluctantly. Maybe you turned Him down. Maybe you gave up as you climbed the rugged mountain terrain.

As the four men reached a secluded place to pray, Jesus' appearance changed right before their eyes! His countenance became that of the Almighty God...what did that look like? Who has seen God? Who has even comprehended what He is like? Even His appearance is more than we could ever fathom! God's divine nature...a glimpse of His glory...it was Jesus...and it was God Himself! Even the clothes that Jesus was wearing became whiter than any bleach could ever make them...maybe they glistened like a newly fallen layer of fresh snow...maybe they radiated with a blinding light...but they became DAZZLING white! (Mark 9:3) Think of the last time you were dazzled...most likely it involved an element of light.

Long ago it was foretold by prophets of God that even those who walk in darkness WILL see a great light! (Isaiah 9:2) That light is Jesus! He came to be the light of the world. He is the light to shine on dark paths and lead us to life everlasting! When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Do you want the light of life? Do you want to be dazzled? Do you want to find the pathway to the only true God?

Scripture tells us what Peter did...he babbled...he fumbled...he wanted to do something to remember this moment. Yet, even as Peter spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed the place where they stood and the voice of God resounded from above them. "Just listen to Jesus." (Matt 17:5) What do you do when you are overcome by the presence of God? Do you try to gain control of yourself or the situation? Do you attempt to create something to show others that you just experienced God? Do you try to say or do something? Or do you fall on your face in the presence of God...and just listen to the voice of Jesus?

For a brief time, Moses and Elijah were present with Jesus...but when the starstruck men got up from their faces, those two men were long gone! Peter, James, and John SAW ONLY JESUS! (Mark 9:8) Jesus dazzled them with His holy whiteness! The prophet Job's response to his encounter with God was the same..."I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes." (Job 42:5)

Until we get to the place where we see only Jesus...the place where we see Him with our own eyes...we will never know anything more than darkness. We will live in the valley of the shadow of death...we will be bound by the chains of evil and darkness...we will be blinded by the prince of darkness! But when Jesus takes you to a place to be alone with Him, He will dazzle you with His glory! The illumination of His presence will light your path. He will lift the veil of darkness as He radiates His light. He will break the powers of darkness that once surrounded you.