Focus on the Father

Revelation 4:1-11 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also, in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and 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.”

This morning, I attended the Sunday Worship service at Little Church in the Pines at Bass Lake with my father. Pastor Herk spoke of how on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by 19 Islamic terrorists against the United States, which took the lives of over 3000 Americans (including over 300 police and firefighters). The nation was shocked and needed someone who understood our enemy and had a plan to over them. Pastor Herk explained that this is the same message of Revelation 4 (above). Note that in showing what must take place, instead of the horrors of this fallen world, the Apostle John is taken to God’s throne room to see the glory. This is an inspiring example of how to praise God.

1 John 4:3-4 “Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

But, why visit the throne room of heaven instead of the battle between good and evil. Because, that is where we need to begin. Do not focus on the distractions of the fearful and scary things in life, which tends to be an easy thing to do. Those things produce fear and can cause us to live afraid. Note that when issues like “666” and the “Mark of the Beast”, it is the Lord telling us in order to be aware; not for our fear or paranoia. Doom and gloom is not the goal. We need to focus our attention on the awesome heavenly kingdom that is worshipping and praising God, who is worthy. Why? Because there is power and assurance in the Almighty Sovereign Creator and Lord.

John 16:33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We are going to have problems and tragedies this side of heaven, but we need to take heart that the Lord has overcome this fallen world and there is peace in that truth. Revelation chapter Four explains how to overcome: Do what they are doing. Our attention is to be centered on the kingdom of Heaven, where our citizenship abides, where our Almighty Father reigns on His sovereign throne. Not on the tragedies and failures, but on the ever-present, all-knowing God of heaven and earth, who has the power, majesty and desire to always lift us up. God is worthy and God is with us.

Pastor Herk encourages us all to set your heart, mind and soul on the Lord, who has overcome the world. Focus on the Father. Do not rob yourself by not worshipping your holy Father in heaven. Our major source of power is worshipping and praising God’s power. In times of trouble, focus on the worship and the glory of the Lord, your God. “God is with us” equates to our peace. Fears subside and calm (even in the storm) settles in. grow in worship. God is with us. Are you with God?

In Christ, Brian