One of the things that I look forward to is coming to church on a Sunday morning and getting to worship God. I like when I get to worship God individually, but I love it when we come together collectively and worship Him. There’s something about collective worship that brings me a sense of peace and a sense of being fueled. During the week, I feel a sense of fatigue, not just physical fatigue because of the events during the week, but also a sense of spiritual fatigue. The church is a place where people can come and get healed. In other words, it is a hospital where people can be treated and restored instead of hospice. We need to understand that worship is something that we don’t do just once or twice a week, but rather a lifestyle we ought to be living on a daily basis.
In today’s passage, the apostle John is describing about worship in heaven. He shares in detail about how wonderful it would be. He not only describes what worship is like, but also what we might see when we enter into the gates of heaven. From the twenty four thrones to the flashes of lightning and thunder, it is going to be an amazing sight to see. If we want to see this, we need to be in that place of obedience to Him and Him alone. When we appear before the judgment seat of God, I want to hear “well done good and faithful servant.” Once we hear that, we can then join the angels in heavenly songs and praises to Him.
Revelation 4:1-11 (NLT Translation)
1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit,[a] and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit[b] of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to always worship You no matter what happens. Father, we know that it can be an easy thing for us to fall away from You. We know that Your word says that we will never be separated from Your love. Let Your love continue to fuel our hearts and our souls. Help us to not get weary or heavy burden by our weekly activities. Help us to take some time to worship You. Help us to be in spirit and in truth of Your word and Your word alone. Without Your word, we will not have a clear direction from You. Help us to dive into Your word and let us meditate on Your word.
In Jesus name, amen