Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, Holy, Holy
By: Reginald Heber 1783–1826
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We continue our journey through another great hymn this week. In the first half of this stanza, we consider the worship happening around the throne eternally, including right now. That current activity by those in God’s presence should inform how we live our lives today. Let’s tune our hearts.
All the Saints
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
John’s vision as recorded in the book of Revelation gives us this incredible image of the saints on high adoring God. Can you imagine what that must have looked like? It must have been so overwhelming to try to explain what he saw using words and concepts that an earthly mind can comprehend when it must have truly been incomprehensible.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered…standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. Revelation 15:2 ESV
Sea of glass, mingled with fire. Water and flames somehow coming together. This powerful imagery of opposites coming together forces our minds to go places beyond the normal. And that is exactly what a glimpse into the dwelling place of God would be. Beyond normal.
It is in this very unusual setting that we read “those who had conquered…with harps of God in their hands.” The saints referenced here are all those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Though I believe we will engage in other pursuits, it seems clear here that we will indeed play harps of God around the glassy sea.
I think it is interesting that it does not say some of them had harps, simply that those who conquered…had. So what do you think that will be like? What do you think that will sound like? Those who have conquered offering their praise to God collectively, all while standing around this sea of glass mingled with fire.
So what are the implications for us? What does that have to do with us? What difference does it make? I have often contended that if praise is going to be at least a part of our eternal occupation, we should get prepared as much as we can before we get there.
The reality is God will give us what we need to praise Him in those days, but I also believe He does the same now and that there really is no good reason to wait. If you have saving faith in Jesus Christ, then you are a saint. How will you echo the conquerors’ eternal praise in your life today? Think about it. Commit to it. Do it!
Laying Down Our Honors
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Revelation again is greatly symbolic. With that said, our hymn writer here takes liberty and refers to saints casting down their crowns. While Scripture refers to them as “elders,” the hymns takes a more poetic approach by calling those who will cast their crowns saints. Those who cast their crowns are in a sense a specific group, and yet at the same time may very well be representative of a larger one.
The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne…Revelation 4:10 ESV
These twenty-four seem to be clearly human figures, all believers in God, possibly representing the church including its leaders, and certainly indicates they are somehow worthy of the honor of wearing crowns, which is not even said of the angels. What an incredible thought! We will get to fall down before the throne and worship Him.
One fascinating aspect of this to me is the fact that even though these elders are given the honor of wearing a crown in the presence of the King of Kings, they willingly, and I would even say gladly, lay them down before His throne. The use of the word cast, in both the Scripture and the hymn, seems to imply something. Cast means to throw forcibly in a specific direction. The emotion and intention of that is striking to me, and I would even say instructive.
If these elders are indeed believers, then we will possibly be counted amongst their number. How can we learn from them? What honors have you received that you are most proud of? Would you be willing to cast them down at the feet of Jesus if doing so would bring Him greater honor than keeping them?
So, let’s practice that. You may not have a crown, but each of us has things we have been honored to receive. Think of a thing or two. Now consider if you would be willing to lay them down, casting them before the throne, or would you be inclined to keep them as a badge of honor? Seems pretty simple. But what if laying them down today, not before His throne but somewhere else, would give honor to Jesus. Careful before you answer. You may have that opportunity today.
Jesus, thank You for giving me saving faith so that I may be among the conquerors. I look froward to giving You praise around that glassy sea, and casting my crown at Your feet. But until then, help me, even today, to use my life and the honors I have received to bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Worshipful Tuning!
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Video 14.2 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
As the imagery of the worship around God’s throne continues to develop, we declare the reality that all the saints, from every tribe and tongue and nation, will give praise to the Lamb for the salvation He has made available through His blood. Join their adoration right now.
Revelation 4 tells us that the twenty-four elders fall down before Him and cast their crowns before the throne. Can you imagine what those moments will be like? All creation lining up to give glory to our God, and these crown-wearers throwing theirs down. Humble yourself today.
From Genesis, through Isaiah and Ezekiel, all the way to Revelation, we read of these angelic creatures, ever the messengers of God. We should follow their lead and fall down before God. Have you ever laid face down before our King? Will you do so today?
Here we pick up again the refrain of the four living creatures, attributed in the hymn to the cherubim and seraphim. His eternal quality alone sets Him apart from everything else in all creation, which will rise up together one day to give Him alone all honor and glory. Worship God!
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
The post How to Use Today to Get Ready for Eternity appeared first on Resonant 7.
