5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and
peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire,
which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as
it were a sea of glass, like crystal. (Revelation 4)
Mondays are
probably my most questioning day of the week. After finishing up a week of
meditation on God’s word with some Sunday morning teaching, Monday invites me
into the next section of Scripture full of questions about what God wants to
teach me this next week.
Some of the
questions include wondering about what the lightning and thunder communicate,
how the seven torches of fire help us understand the Holy Spirit’s place in the
Triunity of the throne-room of God, and what encouragement we should get from
the glassy, crystal sea before the throne. Those questions invite us to some
wonderful exploration of God’s word for his answers.
Around these questions
are more personal ones, like, what difference does this picture make to
anything the church could go through in this earthly lifetime? How does the
somewhat impersonal imagery of lightning, fire, and a sea, tell us anything
personal about the God who sits on the throne, and how we should feel about
him?
This morning
the most personal question revolved around the struggles of those who carry
childhood pain into their relationship with God. If we are on a journey of
getting to know God as our Father, and to see him without any self-protective
filters distorting who and what he is really like, does this picture of God’s
throne tell us something good about how approachable and safe God is to those
who are his children? Or, is there something ominous and dangerous about
considering approaching this throne with any degree of confidence whatsoever?
What I already
know for certain is that this revelation of God is going to be completely
consistent with everything the Scriptures already reveal about him. The
twenty-four elders clearly are not afraid of being in God’s presence. The
living creatures do not act like they are afraid of him, but more that they are
thoroughly overwhelmed by the glory of his holiness. John himself was invited
up into this Holiest of Holies and expresses nothing that would indicate that
he had reason to feel terrified.
When we come
to the book of Revelation, we must keep in mind everything about God that was
revealed to us before that book was given. God is love.[1] He
calls us to his throne of grace so we can receive mercy in our times of need.[2] He
forgives our sins.[3]
He adopts us as sons in his Son, Jesus Christ.[4] He
calls us to come confidently into his most holy presence through the blood of
his Son who has made us completely righteous in his sight.[5]
No matter what
the lightning means to God’s enemies, or how the seven flames of the Holy Spirit
remind them that God is a consuming fire,[6] or
how the sea before God reminds them of how God destroyed his enemies in the Red
Sea,[7]
the children of God come to this glorious throne with far different
expectations.
The only thing
we have to answer concerning whether this picture is good for us or bad for us
is whether we are God’s children or his enemies. Who God is will never change.
How his unchanging glory affects us, depends on who we are.
From my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
[1]
“So we have come to know and to believe
the love that God has for us. God is love, and
whoever abides in love abides in
God, and God abides in him.” (I John 4:16)
[2]
“14 Since
then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the
Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted
as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the
throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.” (Hebrews 4)
[3]
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)
[4]
Ephesians 1:5
[5]
“19 Therefore,
brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of
Jesus, 20 by the
new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through
his flesh, 21 and
since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a
true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10)
[6]
Hebrews 12:29
[7]
Exodus 14
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