Revelation – Jesus is Coming Back!
In the hustle and bustle of getting a family ready for church our minds are on all the tasks at hand. As you gather everyone and begin to open the door to the car, the baby decides to eliminate that morning’s breakfast into a fresh diaper, the middle toddler has no shoes, and the oldest has pajama bottoms on under her dress. It is no wonder moms and dads and kids have a hard time preparing to worship the God Almighty in praise with others. But it can happen. It has happened to me. All of the above description of going to church.
In the hustle and bustle of getting a family ready for church our minds are on a checklist of tasks of getting there. As you gather everyone and begin to open the door to the car, you notice the baby decided to eliminate that morning’s breakfast into a fresh diaper, the middle toddler has no shoes, and the oldest has pajama bottoms on under her dress. It is no wonder moms and dads and kids have a hard time preparing to worship the God Almighty in praise with others. But it can happen. It has happened to me. All of the above description and more of going to worship God with others…called church.
I am awestruck this morning with the beginning words of John’s next vision. “Then I looked, and oh…” We have to stop and look, really see. Even without kids at home we are still easily distracted and miss Him. We need to take deep breaths before each day of true worship of laying down our lives, our plans, our thinking, our wants and LOOK to Him. When we come to corporate worship with others, we need to LOOK to God and listen for His quiet voice that speaks to a heart that is His. Look past the decorations and presentations and with our hearts, look up and listen.
What follows is deeper worship of God. “…a door opened into Heaven. The trumpet-voice, the first voice in my vision, called out, ‘Ascend and enter. I’ll show you what happens next.'” John responded, “I was caught up at once in deep worship and, oh!…” Then John describes a scene in heaven of pure worship.The worshipers were all eyes, seeing around and within, singing a chorus of:
“Holy, holy, holy
Is God our Master, Sovereign-Strong
THE WAS, THE IS, THE COMING.”
As a monumental action of worship the beings took off their crowns and threw them at the foot of the throne. This is deeper worship still with recognizing that He is GOD and we are not. “Take the glory! the honor! the power!” This is acknowledgement that glory, honor and power belongs to the Creator and we are merely His created who love Him back and worship Him with heart, mind and soul.
Revelation 4, The Message
Then I looked, and, oh!—a door open into Heaven. The trumpet-voice, the first voice in my vision, called out, “Ascend and enter. I’ll show you what happens next.”
2-6 I was caught up at once in deep worship and, oh!—a Throne set in Heaven with One Seated on the Throne, suffused in gem hues of amber and flame with a nimbus of emerald. Twenty-four thrones circled the Throne, with Twenty-four Elders seated, white-robed, gold-crowned. Lightning flash and thunder crash pulsed from the Throne. Seven fire-blazing torches fronted the Throne (these are the Sevenfold Spirit of God). Before the Throne it was like a clear crystal sea.
6-8 Prowling around the Throne were Four Animals, all eyes. Eyes to look ahead, eyes to look behind. The first Animal like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a human face, the fourth like an eagle in flight. The Four Animals were winged, each with six wings. They were all eyes, seeing around and within. And they chanted night and day, never taking a break:
Holy, holy, holy
Is God our Master, Sovereign-Strong,
The Was, The Is, The Coming.
9-11 Every time the Animals gave glory and honor and thanks to the One Seated on the Throne—the age-after-age Living One—the Twenty-four Elders would fall prostrate before the One Seated on the Throne. They worshiped the age-after-age Living One. They threw their crowns at the foot of the Throne, chanting,Worthy, O Master! Yes, our God!
Take the glory! the honor! the power!
You created it all;
It was created because you wanted it.
ONE LAST THOUGHT…
“It was created because you wanted it.” God created us because He wanted us! He wanted us to love and be loved by Him. Why wouldn’t we worship the One who created us? He is perfect and oh, so good.
LOOK…into His Word for a glimpse of Who He really is.
“Then I looked”…and now I’m singing in worship…He IS the King of my heart.
Let the King of my heart
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh, He is my song
‘Cause You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
And let the King of my heart
Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Oh oh, He is my song
‘Cause You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are…
Dear Heavenly Father,You are God and we are not. You are good, merciful, gracious and powerful. To you be all glory, honor and praise. Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into what is to be. Help us to look and listen for you today as we worship you with every thought and activity. Oh, you are good.
In Jesus Name, Amen
