29 December | Youth
«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.”» Revelation 1:17
A strange syndrome has affected tourists visiting the Italian city of Florence. This is Stendhal syndrome, a phenomenon that causes visitors to suffer severe psychological stress when coming into contact with the city’s abundant artistic wealth. The syndrome was clinically described as a psychiatric disorder in 1989 by the Italian doctor Graziella Magherini. She observed 106 patients who suffered vertigo and palpitations when looking at works of art, such as Michelangelo’s sculptures and Botticelli’s paintings. The syndrome can affect people to the point where they no longer feel their own body.
In the Bible, some characters went through similar situations, but much more intense, especially when they came into contact with the unparalleled beauty of God. The prophets Daniel and John, for example, personally saw Jesus glorified and even fainted due to such amazement. Daniel described: “I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms, and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude” (Dan. 10:5, 6).
How would you react if you were physically before the Creator? Would you be speechless? Would you fall at His feet as if dead? One day, by the grace of God, we will have the privilege of seeing the face of Jesus. Sin will no longer separate us from God, and no syndrome will cause us to have palpitations or fainting. We will gaze into the eyes of the Savior, hear His sweet voice, and have the privilege of embracing Him. In Heaven, instead of any syndrome, we will feel the fullness of happiness.
I propose the following exercise to you: think about all the beautiful things you have seen, the most sublime music you have heard, the tastiest food you have tasted, the most fantastic places you have visited. All of this amounts to just a millionth, and much less, compared to what Christ has prepared for you. Heaven is real! There are beauties infinitely superior to those of Florence and the entire Earth. So, get ready!