A Revelation Invitation

(“The Throne” series begins here.)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-12)

It is from the throne that God rules, even in the midst of chaos, or better, sovereign over the chaos. As our prayers rise before the one seated on the throne, he responds to those prayers judging the wicked and the oppressor. His actions on our behalf in response to our prayers confirm the depth of his love for his people and for his creation.

So, how do we respond to his love and his justice? We break out in song. We bow in worship. We honor the one who sits on the throne. We celebrate his salvation. We acknowledge the glory that is due him. I’m afraid that sometimes we get worship backwards. If we’re not careful, we may put ourselves at the center of worship. Worship is not about providing an emotionally exhilarating experience for us. God must be at the center. Without him at the center of our worship, we will live in fear, in doubt, without confidence in our future in him, overwhelmed by sin. Worship is so much more than a Sunday morning activity. Until we live a life of worship with our God and the Lamb always at the center, we will be tossed around by the chaos that curses our world. Only with our hearts’ constant adoration of the one who sits on the throne can we overcome the oppressor, endure his injustice and conquer sin because the one who sits on the throne rules our world.

Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

God has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted! (Psalm 47 ESV)

(This is the end of “The Throne” series.)