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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Pastoral Pings ~ The Hopeful See the Cleansing Sea

          This week I am exploring what this verse means: “…and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal” (Revelation 4:6). This is not to bring to mind a beautiful seascape, but to draw us back to the imagery of the bronze sea that Solomon made for the temple. We will look at its description on Sunday. For the moment, simply picture a fifteen-foot diameter bronze pool resting on the backs of twelve bronze oxen, with three looking in each of the four directions of the compass.[1]

          What stands out is that the only description of the sea was that “…the sea was for the priests to wash in”.[2] There were ten basins made for washing the offerings and sacrifices,[3] but the sea was for the washing of the priests themselves in preparation for their service in the temple.

          Now picture a sea of glass, like crystal, present before the throne of God. As the earthly tabernacle and temple pictured the heavenly realities, we can now gain understanding of the heavenly realities by associating them to the earthly pictures. Hebrews calls them “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.[4] As a blueprint can tell a manufacturer what a car will look like, and yet the real car is far superior to the blueprint, so the earthly expressions under the first covenant tell us many things about the realities of heaven, while the realities of heaven far surpass our wildest imaginings of any earthly things at all.

          When we picture the twenty-four elders around the throne[5] as representative of the whole church as a kingdom of priests,[6] and we know that the bronze sea in the temple was for the cleansing of the priests in their service, then we can see this sea of glass as a reminder of the necessity, and the reality, of our cleansing from sin.

          Since we all fail far more than we care to admit, we are constantly reminded of the necessity of forgiveness. We would have no hope of coming before the throne-room of God if there were no means of cleansing us from sin. At the same time, our battle with principalities, powers and authorities in the spiritual realm[7] may leave us feeling defeated and hopeless. The last sin we committed may weigh upon our hearts with a sense of despair, leaving us wondering what would happen to us if Jesus suddenly appeared right at that moment.

          The sea of glass, clear as crystal, pure and undefiled, announces to us that there is only one way to come before God, and that is through the cleansing from sin provided for us through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It also tells us that, when such cleansing from sin has taken place, there is no fear of us being rejected by God no matter how many times we fail him. The sea of glass before the throne tells us that forgiveness and cleansing are always waiting for us.

          I think that I John 1:9 encapsulates the imagery of the glassy sea: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God does not require us to be sinless. The law proved how impossible such a thing would be. However, he does require us to be cleansed and forgiven of our sins. Jesus Christ has provided for that cleansing so completely and perfectly that God wants us to be able to come to him feeling hope and confidence in doing so. In his own words:

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)

          Be assured that the glassy sea, like crystal, reminds us and assures us that this is so. Come to this cleansing sea with confidence in Jesus Christ our Lord.

          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] I Kings 7:23-26; II Chronicles 4:1-6
[2] II Chronicles 4:6
[3] I Kings 7:27-39
[4] Hebrews 8:5
[5] Revelation 4:4
[6] Exodus 9:5; I Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:5-6
[7] Ephesians 6:10ff

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