How do you describe the indescribable? Your best description of the most beautiful sunset you have ever seen will never begin to portray its reality to someone else. Words sometimes are severely limited and inadequate.
How would you describe God? If you actually saw Him, what words would begin to describe Him? No task could be more difficult, and yet a man named John was inspired to leave us with a word picture of His majesty.
"Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold,a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind." (Revelation 4:2-6)
Awesome as this description is, it pales in comparison to the Reality being described. But, how very blessed and privileged John was to have seen this incredible sight! At the least, the inadequate word description should be so appealing as to stir a hunger within us for a similar encounter.
The most basic message of the Bible is that our Father has often initiated encounters such as John the apostle experienced on a lonely island called Patmos. Men such as Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah - to name a few - had radical, life-changing encounters with the Holy One, per His initiative.
It is said that religion is man's effort to reach God, whereas Christianity is God's effort to reach man. Those who are in Christ are uniquely positioned for a radical encounter with the Father. Through faithful study of His word, and time devoted to being alone and still in His presence, we can live expectantly of such an experience.
We are each called to echo the praise of the angelic beings surrounding the throne of our Father: "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME ..."Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:8,11)
Freely participating in His praise is the gateway to a life-changing encounter with our Creator and Father. May our free and deliberate personal worship this day usher us into the very presence of our Father.
©Steve Taylor, 2012
How would you describe God? If you actually saw Him, what words would begin to describe Him? No task could be more difficult, and yet a man named John was inspired to leave us with a word picture of His majesty.
"Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold,a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind." (Revelation 4:2-6)
Awesome as this description is, it pales in comparison to the Reality being described. But, how very blessed and privileged John was to have seen this incredible sight! At the least, the inadequate word description should be so appealing as to stir a hunger within us for a similar encounter.
The most basic message of the Bible is that our Father has often initiated encounters such as John the apostle experienced on a lonely island called Patmos. Men such as Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah - to name a few - had radical, life-changing encounters with the Holy One, per His initiative.
It is said that religion is man's effort to reach God, whereas Christianity is God's effort to reach man. Those who are in Christ are uniquely positioned for a radical encounter with the Father. Through faithful study of His word, and time devoted to being alone and still in His presence, we can live expectantly of such an experience.
We are each called to echo the praise of the angelic beings surrounding the throne of our Father: "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME ..."Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:8,11)
Freely participating in His praise is the gateway to a life-changing encounter with our Creator and Father. May our free and deliberate personal worship this day usher us into the very presence of our Father.
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:13 AM
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