An Invitation To Heaven

by Jim Reynolds⁽¹⁵⁾

An Invitation To Heaven

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.” – Rev. 4:1

An Invitation To See

What a sight! The door to heaven, cracked open, like every back door after a child leaves the house. We want to push John, who hasn’t yet been stingy about revealing great mysteries. “Go! What are you waiting for? I want to see what’s behind that door!” John does not need to sneak up and peek, though. He is given an invitation and, because we are “blessed” by his revelation, we get to join him. “Come up and see… come up here and I will show you” What does John see?

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. – Rev. 4:2-4

An Invitation To Trust

Despite the fanciful visions of heaven popular in today’s bookstores, the focus of John’s vision is the Throne and Someone sitting on it. Amid all the wonder of heaven, the sights John can only describe via metaphor, the creatures and sounds that defy metaphor, his focus is the Throne and the One on it. He mentions or describes it 40 times in his Revelation; 11 are in this chapter.

Unlike other ancient thrones, God’s Throne, is never described. It is the One occupying that throne that captures John’s attention. Every image, every symbol applied to that One, underlines the fact that God is on the highest Throne. No one else – not an earthly king, not Satan, not fickle circumstance – decides “what must take place.” Only God. But when so much of life seems random and when the rest seems to depend on others over whom we have no control, how can we trust God?

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

An Invitation To Worship

Out from the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Throughout Scripture, the source of thunder is always God. The thunders erupting from God’s throne represent His judgment on sin, His swift, sure, powerful answers to prayer, and His revelation of Himself. The thunder is a sign of God’s power and activity. We trust not only because He occupies the Throne, but because His power flows from it.

Even if life seems random, God is at work through it all – thunderously. “Before the throne” was a crystal sea. No troubled waters here. No consternation or concern. God is not pacing about heaven, hoping things work out. Neither is He a glorified cheerleader, rooting us on, but leaving us to do the best we can on our own. He is OUR God, “working all things together after the counsel of His will.”

“Around the Throne” were “four living creatures” who appear to have only one purpose. “Day and night, they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’” One writer comments: “Worship is not the invention of nice things to say about God; it is the recognition of who God already is as well as what He has already done or promised to do, and how worthy He is of our praise.” Another concludes, “Worship is the opportunity for busy people to touch the Eternal, for sinners to glimpse the Holy, for broken people to be enfolded In His perfect love. Worship is moving beyond our self-centered lives to meet the One who created us for something better.”

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." – Rev. 4:8-11

An Invitation To Submission

This is the first of six times the Elders will fall down before God and cast their crowns at His feet. None of us will preen around heaven like proud Boy Scouts with sashes full of merit badges. God will receive full glory.

The second song clearly reveals that we are created beings, who only exist because of God’s will. He is worthy. Not because things turn out the way we want them to. He is worthy of all glory and honor and power because He alone is God. The total expression of our worship must include submission. No matter what you are dealing with, there is an open door into heaven, an invitation for you to see from His perspective. There is One seated on the Throne, inviting you to trust Him. He is all-powerful and His strength will come to bear on your situation. No matter the outcome, He is worthy of worship.

This is our invitation to heaven. When we worship in submission, we get as close as we can this side of eternity. Scotty Smith, in Unveiled Hope, reminds us, “Our shouts and songs and words of worship are heard by the same God in the same Throne Room, and in precisely the same place – beyond time!”

Walk WITH Jesus,

Pastor Jim

Article submitted Friday, June 03, 2011 & read 282 times.

Please log in to leave your comments.
No comments yet.
We appreciate your comments!

8-1-0-0-0-ADSO

Most Recent