The Revelation
I must admit that “Fixer-Upper” is one of my favorite shows of late, with Chip and Johnna Gains. They are Christians who make a thriving business of “taking the worst house in the best neighborhood”, as they say, and remodeling it to be the best house and perfect for their new residents who invested their funds to make it happen. The “big reveal” comes at the end of the show, of course, when the new home owners get to finally see their new home. There are many tears of joy, oohs and ahs, with “I can’t believe it, it is so pretty, just what we wanted!” The new owners are so grateful it seems. Of course, since it is a TV show, we never hear any complaints…that’s part of the reason we like to watch it. It is a very positive show with many hints of how to remodel our own homes. Mm. There is a lot to think about here.
Jesus is preparing a home for us, too. Our new home will be met with many oohs and ahs, too, for this home will be perfect for us because Jesus knows exactly who we are and what is best for us! (Better than we know ourselves.) But we won’t be thinking of ourselves any longer for we will be overwhelmed with praise for God our Father who sits on the Throne of Heaven. “I was caught up in deep worship…”, says John who gets a sneak peak into heaven and tells us about it!
Our forever home with Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, allows up to see God and be in awe of His mere Presence. Our only response is worship! All material things of this world mean nothing in comparison! All burdens gone. No tears of sadness, only joy and praise for our Creator. Don’t you love this sneak peak?
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.
What do we learn?
–Praise, pure praise for God, our Creator, for our Lord and Savior!
–A sneak peak to see what happens next!
–A peak at our forever home!
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are glorious and compassionate, kind and loving, gracious and merciful. We only have praise for this “reveal” this morning. Thank you, Lord for a sneak peak for what happens next! In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe
And I’m singing…and praising…
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
