Pastor Jon's Complete
Through-the-Bible Teachings
in MP3 Audio Format on a
USB Flash Drive
$10
This flash drive contains Pastor Jon's teachings through the entire Bible (Genesis through Revelation) in MP3 audio format. There are over 1200 teachings which include Jon's verse by verse exposition of the Bible as well as the Sunday sermons which take a more in-depth look at a section of the Scripture from the verse-by-verse study.
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It’s not surprising that He Who is the Light of the world appears as bright as fire (John 8:12). Ezekiel saw not only the fiery glow of God’s glory but also the bow of His grace (Genesis 9:16). Here, the Lord on the throne is as bright as fire but with a gracious bow emanating from Him. The glory of God and the grace of God walk hand in hand.
Seeing these things, Ezekiel fell on his face. So did the Apostle John (Revelation 1:17). When you see the greatness of God, it’s inevitable that you fall on your face in brokenness and humility.
This chapter is important for two reasons. First, it guards against a loss of transcendence. That is, it serves as a reminder that God is great and awesome, beyond description and understanding, that He is “other.” He’s not our buddy or “the Man upstairs.” There is a mystery and majesty concerning the God we serve that should cause us to fall on our face. Failure to acknowledge the transcendence of God results in a lack of worship of God. People who have God all figured out theologically, all boxed in doctrinally will not worship because there’s no mystery. That’s why visions like this are invaluable to us, even though we don’t fully understand them.
Second, this chapter guards against a loss of imminence. Yes, God is “other” - but He’s also here, among us. Here is this awesome mysterious Being revealing something of Himself to Ezekiel, dwelling in the midst of these living creatures, making Himself known by coming as a Man, Jesus from Galilee. Loss of imminence results in cold formality. People might worship, but it will be dead ritualism.
Transcendence and imminence are always necessary in the Church corporately and in our lives personally. The first time I went to Candlestick Park, I was in third grade. I saw Willie Mays hit the first pitch of the first inning out of the park. From that day on, he was my hero. Then I had the opportunity to meet him at a dinner through a friend’s dad. I sat two rows away from him. He was there, present, but he was totally “other.” He was very gracious, but I was aware of his transcendence. That’s the way it is with our Lord. He rejoices over us with song. He loves to be in our midst. He calls us friends. And yet He is bigger and more “other” than we can ever imagine.