“Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize”
The other day, my daughter and I were talking about something and she said “Well, I just want to go to heaven!” That really struck a chord with me. My 4-year-old knows pretty much nothing about heaven, except it will be even more awesome than the Disney castle; yet, she is so eager to go to this unknown place. Her eyes are on the prize. Her faith is unmoving.
I have to admit I don’t think about heaven a lot because I feel vulnerable and unsure. When I reflect on what I know about heaven and eternity, it’s pretty much the same–nothing.
So, where do we turn when we want to read up on heaven? Revelations. Revelations 1:19 gives us a breakdown of how the whole book is laid out–“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” The first few chapters are the “what are’s,” and the rest of the chapters are what is to come. Specifically, chapter 4 is John’s revelation on the throne of heaven. Could you imagine being John and having these visions? The apostle John provides us with some images: emeralds, crowns, horses, a sea of glass, a rainbow around the throne. I love how there are so many layers with these imageries and analogies. But it doesn’t make it easy to grasp. Living creatures with multiple eyes?! The 24 elders?!
I want to put heaven in earthly context, but that doesn’t work. I want it to all make sense. It can’t be done.
But what I do know, and where I want my focus to be, is that worshipping will take place. Revelation 4 talks about creatures singing, “HOLY HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.” In Revelation 19 they sing, “HALLELUJAH, PRAISE OUR GOD…FOR OUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY REIGNS.” Revelation 7 talks about the great multitudes in white robes crying out, “SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD.” And they all fell down and said “AMEN! PRAISE AND GLORY…”
So that’s the image I’m going to keep in mind. Absolute reverence to God, in adoration.
Am I preparing for my heavenly home?
Philippians 3:14…”I press on toward the goal to win the prize which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
