This week, we heard the good news that the throne of God and work of Christ give us meaning and hope. In chapter 4 of Revelation, John gives us a description of the throne of God surrounded by creation joining in singing and praise. We see a picture of the beauty and majesty of our Creator, an image of the promise of restoration in Jesus:
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 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.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
For children and adults: Take a moment to think about the images in these verses. What descriptions stand out to you? What do they make you think of?
Remember that Revelation is written to engage our emotions and our imaginations. John ultimately points us to Jesus, the only one worthy to fulfill God’s plan for his creation:
Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
God’s plan is only and finally fulfilled in Jesus. This is the reference point for our lives, the only way we find meaning. We come to the throne only through grace, we find life only through Jesus’ death.
The message of the gospel is counterintuitive, our instinct is to believe our value or even our salvation is earned or maintained through what we bring to the table. How is the gospel pushing you to grow in your dependence on Jesus?
If we are to come to grips with the reality of the gospel, we also need to acknowledge and deal with our distractions. We confessed this week that we are quick to forget our first love:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you created all things out of nothing by your powerful word. We were made in your image. You called us to a life of love, trust, obedience, covenant. But we thought we were missing out on something. We rebelled. That rebellion brought shame, emptiness, loneliness, death, distrust, deceit, curse, self-sufficiency. We struggle to trust that your ways are better than ours. We struggle to obey your word. Even when we do obey, it is often not because we are motivated by your love for us in Jesus. We are so easily preoccupied with our plans, our desires, our agendas. All of this and more is sin. For Jesus’ sake, forgive us.
Rather than seeing our lives through the lens of the story of scripture, we often see our lives as a series of issues, completely separate from the gospel. What are your distractions? Where are you trying to find meaning or purpose outside of Jesus?
How might the unseen reality of the throne of God, the promise of restoration, change the way we engage with struggle or hardship? With our friends and neighbors? With our vocations?
Especially for children: It’s good for us to remember that we are a part of God’s story, creation, rebellion, redemption, and restoration. How would you tell the story of scripture using your own words?
Pray: Thank you, Jesus, for your free gift of grace. You gave yourself to conquer sin and death and called us to a life of love and obedience. But we struggle with idols of comfort and self-sufficiency. Instead of seeing our lives through the lens of your word, we try our best to find meaning and purpose outside of you. Redirect our hearts towards you, Jesus. Father, remind us again and again of your story. Help us to view ourselves, others, questions, and the day-to-day through the reality of the gospel.
As we look forward to worship next week, continue to read and consider the imagery and message of Revelation 4 and 5. Pray that we would come to a deeper understanding of God’s word for his people.
Revelation 4:6b And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.