Text: Revelation 4
But what if I don’t want to sing forever?
That was my selfish thought as a new believer whenever I’d get adventurous enough to peak into the book of Revelation. The thought of worshipping forever from my human standpoint conjured up images of aching feet, hymns I’d surely forget the words to, and the feeling that surely I was missing something more fun.
As time has passed, my heart has shifted, and the only thing I really know about heaven and eternity is that I know nothing about heaven and eternity. I can’t imagine it and if I could, I don’t think it would be all that fantastic. If humans can describe, prescribe, dictate, or anticipate it — it surely can’t be God-sized.
And yet, Revelation gives us this glimpse. A sea of glass, winged creatures. Eyes all up on everything. White garments and elders. And all day and night, they’re falling before the throne crying – “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty..” (Rev 4:8 ESV) They cast their crowns down and say, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power…” (Rev 4:11 ESV)
When it comes to eternity, when it comes to our ultimate fresh start – I can’t help but think we’re always asking the wrong questions. Where will we stay? Will we still be married? Will our knees hurt from constantly bowing? Will we be bored? Will we remember? Will we miss coffee? Will there be coffee?
When I read Revelation chapter four slowly, I’m sure of it – we’re asking all the wrong questions. And maybe, at least for me, I’m living with the wrong end in sight. Do I believe in a God this Holy? Do I talk to a God THIS Holy? Do I trust in a Redeemer who is worthy of my praise forever?
Father, you know we can’t live in Revelation 4. Not today, at least. But you can make Revelation 4 mean something in our hearts today – You can help us turn our eyes towards Yourself. You can help us ask the right questions and help us stop asking the wrong ones. We may not want to worship forever, but we sure want to want to worship forever. Open the eyes of our heart. In Jesus name.
I'm thankful to God for this devotional. It speaks right to my heart. It describes me where I am today. One thing is for sure is that God plans for me in heaven are bigger and greater than I can ever think of. I am grateful that he is peeling back layers of earthy thinking and allowing himself to be revealed. He continues to open my eyes and my heart and I am blessed that he is allowing me to see things from his perspective. Thank You Lord. Continue to work on me inside and out.
I love this insight to our future with our Heavenly Father! I pray My desire to lnow God grows daily. Thank you Lord for what we have to look forward to. It will be amazing to have an eternity of worship of this great Gof!
I love the honesty of this devo. And I needed the reminder that I can't possibly imagine ANYTHING God-sized. Our eyes are earthly. Thank You, Lord, for being bigger.
It occurred to me while reading this devotion that it may be like a day when you are so happy your body is light and your heart and soul is dancing and singing. Do you ever do that? Your body doesn’t have to be moving or producing any sound, but your heart is singing?
As i was reading this evil sure did want to intervene and make me want to question all i was reading. Thoughts came to my head about how I dont want to worship like that and why should we have too? God sure can be selfish of the worship… and I had to pray, HARD and Jesus and I fought it out. HE DIED FOR ME THATS WHY WE GIVE PRAISE! Its times like this when you realize how powerful Satan is and what he will do to come between u and God. I seem to forget that sometimes. When your in this relationship with God you become so involved with him that you forget about Satan and what he is capable of. Today was a reminder and how its a struggle but I had Jesus by my side and we got through it. GOD IS GOOD!
I was refreshed to read today’s devotion. How many times do we hear Christians say “when I get to Heaven I’m going to ask God such & such” it makes me shake my head and wonder where they come up with that idea? I always respond “no when you get to Heaven you’ll be praising God forever. There will be no other consideration ” and yep I think “wow aren’t we going to get bored?” But as you noted, we don’t think like God-we ‘ll understand then…
thank you and God Bless You!!! Amen.
…there before me was a door standing open…and the voice I had first heard speaking to me…said, “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this.”
How many times has God called us to enter a door He had opened for us but because we didn’t understand (like we don’t understand heaven) we don’t cross the threshold or we actually close the door totally to what might have been a wonderful experience (heaven on earth) serving and praising God through His calling on our life. The next time God speaks, opens doors, even if you don’t understand walk through it anyways. He will explain things along the way and heaven when we get there will have its own explanation.