Worship Before the Throne

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7: 9-10 NIV)

I’m almost overwhelmed by how much richness lives in this short passage. I could easily write a devotional about the nations and tribes all together in unity, the white robes representing our righteousness in Christ, the palm branches bringing us back to Palm Sunday, or the powerful image of the Lamb. It’s such a beautiful picture of an idyllic heaven. A place of perfection. But at the heart of it all—is worship.

Not just a moment of worship. Not just a half hour of worship on Sunday morning. But as we see later in the passage, this seems to go on “day and night”…or whatever that might represent in eternity (Revelation 7:15).

I’ve often imagined this scene during my own times of meditation and worship. I envision myself as part of that mammoth crowd, I feel inextricably woven together with the glorious tapestry of saints from all earthly times and places. My heart is bursting with a sense of awe and wonder as I spy God’s brilliant, sparkling light at a distance.

And then, it’s as if I find myself transformed. The scene shifts and in that very same instant, I sense an intimate connection between me and my Father God. Sometimes bowing before Him, or sitting at His feet. But others times, I’m suddenly a child again. He lifts me high over his head and swings me around in a looping circle. That white dress swirls about me.

This awe inspiring God of wonder is also my daddy, my papa. How incredible is that? I am a child of this glorious King.

Some people hear of a heaven where we worship night and day, and they’re not so sure that’s something they really want. It makes me wonder. If you don’t enjoy spending time with God now, why would you want to spend eternity with Him? But if you truly love Him, and He loves you…well, that’s another story entirely.

As the passage in Revelation continues, the angels of heaven join in the praise, falling on their faces and crying out “Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!” (Revelation 7:12)

Even in our earthly realm, I’ve fallen on my face before the Lord. I’ve danced with palm branches waving in time. Those experiences fill me with such deep emotions. They stir me to my core. There’s certainly nothing boring about them.

And so I hope that each of you reading this either have experienced—or will soon experience—those incredible times with God. That you will sense the full richness of worshipping your Father, of delighting in His presence. That you will be filled to bursting with love for your heavenly Papa.

During this season, as we focus on the image of a humble babe in the manger, let’s also remember the angels singing, worshipping, and dancing through the sky as they announced His birth to the shepherds. (Luke 2:14) Giving glory to God in the highest, to the awe-inspiring creator of the universe, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Take a few moments to imagine yourself in that heavenly scene described in Revelation. Picture it, and let yourself experience the amazing presence of God. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you sense? What do you feel? Perhaps write it down so that you’ll remember.

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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.