Going Home

Our Bible Study group is doing the Beth Moore DVD Study, "Here and Now...There and Then" a lecture series on Revelation. I'm really getting a lot out of it...more understanding of who God is, and who he wants us to be.

Today I read Chapter 4 of Revelation which explains the throne room in Heaven. It talks about where God is, who he is... what it really looks like. Here's what it tells me!

• The colors from the throne are jasper and carnelian (both bright red stones)
• An emerald rainbow surrounds it and lightning and thunder come from it.
• Surrounding the throne are 4 creatures- each looking like an ox, eagle, man's face, and lion.
• The creatures each have 6 wings and are covered with eyes. (Ezekial 1:4-28 says they have wheels with yellow- green gems all over and eyes)
• Seven lampstands
• 24 thrones with 24 elders
• When the creatures give God glory and honor and thanks to God, the 24 elders fall before him and worship him and lay their crowns at the throne.
• They say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

How does this make you feel? In awe? Frightened? Humbled?

Often when I'm tired, weary or going through a tough time, I lay down and curl up and just dream that I'm sitting in the lap of Jesus. He holds me and tells me it will all be okay almost as if he's wiping away my tears.

I have to be honest, when I read this, that thought was challenged! Could I see myself really in the lap of such glory and power and majesty and well.... you know...the whole thing...it's so beyond me!!!

And then I realized, just as powerful as the lightning, thunder, creatures, glowing and beautiful almight God... is the power of his grace.

His grace is soooooo much that it allows me to curl up in the lap of a throne surrounded by creatures, and the powerful presence of the God of the Universe.

I don't have much else to say...I'm just in awe.

Lord, I thank you that I can rest in your great presence. That even though you have power over all the universe, you care about me. That even though thunder and lightning surround you, you are gentle and forgiving. Help me to know more the power of grace, and your desire for our relationship to deepen. Thank you Jesus for suffering a death that was suffered for the underserving...and that we are made righteous because of it. Lord, your ways are not our ways, and that's why they don't make sense....salvation is free!?!?! It is.. Lord we thank you for that. And thank you for loving us right where we're at! In Jesus name. Amen.