It does us good to think and meditate on God’s word. It is to our benefit to closely study what the Bible tells us and to base our lives on its wisdom.
Proper Bible study has many benefits. It shows us God’s design and how he made the world and everything in it. It tells us who God is and shows us his character. It provides guidelines and instructions for life and it even gives us a glimpse of what awaits us after this life is over.
We are given one such glimpse in Revelations chapter 5. And although I have read it many times before I came back to it this week and something happened. God made it more real to me than it had ever been before.
Read these words and try to comprehend the magnitude of what is happening. Even if you have read this before, try to see it with fresh eyes and a heart and mind that is open to the Holy Spirit.
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a]of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign[b] on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
What a picture! What an event to have the privilege to see and experience! Try as I might I will never be able to come close in my imagination to what actually will take place. But one day I will get to see Jesus who is God in the flesh. And I will take part in praising him together with all of creation. I will get to be a part of the greatest praise and worship event that has ever been and I can’t wait.
How about you?