February 10, 2014
After Jesus has spoken to His churches in Revelation 2-3, He takes John into the holiest spot in heaven or earth and reminds him (and us) of why we should adjust our lives and churches and why we should live a life of absolute surrender to God.
Revelation 4:1-2
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
A DOOR STANDING OPEN IN HEAVEN
God is not hiding. He gave to John (and now, through John gives to us) the ability to walk right into the holy of holies to see the most important scene and gain the most important perspective. He invites us to see what is behind this door. He opens it wide. It is there for all who long to see.
I WILL SHOW YOU
God does not hide Himself or His revelation of the future from John nor us. Of all of God's amazing attributes, one of the most precious to me is His self-disclosure--His willingness to be seen, known, and understood. Here is an open door, but, even further, here is the Lord Jesus Christ aggressively revealing to us what is about to happen.
But it all comes from one source and one picture...
A THRONE...AND ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE
This one reality, and one sentence explains everything and settles everything. There He is--always, eternally, constantly, perfectly, triumphantly. There are not two gods occupying this place, but One. He is seated which is the sign of ultimate authority.
When I see this and realize that everything came from him (even my meager life), everything belongs to Him (the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof), everything is sovereignly overseen by Him, and everything worships before Him, it corrects my proud heart and my scattered mind.
This one vision explains it all and redeems it all.
Do you see Him there? Let this image burn your spiritual retina and leave an eternal picture. And remember, you are not on the throne. He is...and you are to join in the one activity that heaven exists of eternally. You must fall on your face and worship HIM ALL DAY LONG! It is the constant activity of heaven (in the midst of all that is occurring) and should be the constant activity of our lives.
December 20, 2024
December 17, 2024
