Key Verses: 1, 8, 10,
There is that door again! Doesn't
heaven have any security system? You can tell John is struggling with words to
describe what he is seeing. God's throne really is beyond human description. We
run out of words long before its beauty, majesty and significance are even
touched. And yet John is tasked with putting down what he observes in writing.
Not an enviable task. Thrones, elders, lamp stands, creatures, lights, sounds.
They all point in one direction.
God is holy, all-powerful and
eternal. This is the declaration of those present with God. No self-centered
utterances. Just a worshipful statement about who God is. This is the essence
of worship. The flying creatures cover their faces as they declare who God is.
These are angels who have been in God's presence since the beginning. You would
think over time they would get used to God, and not acknowledge His greatness.
But exactly the opposite is true. The
more they know of God, the more they render this worshipful cry. I don't know
if you have ever met anyone who is a really great person. Or been to a place in
nature that is awe-inspiring. No matter how many times you return, every time
you focus on that majesty, you again are caught up in wonder. A crystal clear
night with stars shining down takes my breath away. All those stars and I can
only see the tiniest fraction of the total, and I am in awe.
The people present, the twenty four
elders, join in with their faces to the ground. But before they make their
declaration they place the symbols of authority, wealth, and influence down
before Him. They surrender and acknowledge His place in their lives.
This type of surrender is what we
should be doing moment by moment in our lives now. Anything and everything we
have, do or experience are because of the grace of God. We need to take time to
acknowledge that here and now. There should be no doubt in our hearts and minds
about who deserves to be lifted up. It is not us!
And so as we glimpse with John into
the throne room of the Creator of the Universe, we get a glimpse of worship.
The winged creatures don't dare look. The twenty four elders don't dare to
look. They are not afraid of being struck down dead, but of seeing more of the
greatness of God than they are capable of grasping. It is almost as if we
creatures can only hold so much understanding of God. More than that would
overload our circuits.