Dear Sisters,
This weekend I attended a lovely piano concert. Picture in your mind if you will: a Hawaiian church, the evening breezes blowing thru the open windows, family and friends seated around, lights focused on the baby grand piano tucked in the front corner of the building, and haunting melodies lifting around us. At the end of one piece in particular, I remember feeling almost cheated that the music did not continue.
Recently, my husband and I finished reading the book of Revelation. I have always longed to understand more of Revelation—its symbology often confuses me to say the least. One portion in chapter 4 established a particularly dry, boring image in my mind in which the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are constantly praising the Lord (with the same specific phrases). Today as I re-read those verses, last night’s concert came to mind and a suggestion developed that perhaps these praises would be much like the music I heard and wanted to continue—music expressing a surprising variety of thought and emotion, but always wrapped in delight and joy.
Each piece of music has notes it centers around, they hold the piece together as a whole, make it unique, and they repeat throughout. Perhaps the praises of those in heaven would pattern themselves much like beautiful music on earth—unified in its theme, ever changing in its expression. And, also like here on earth, the praise in heaven might flow and pervade every aspect of our lives. In other words, I do not imagine we simply have a forever ‘gather around the camp fire’ experience at the throne of heaven. God is a god of action and creation. He delights in work. In fact, He made us to work and created joy in our hearts for our acts of creation and His. Instead, I envision His saints working while praising much as we might whistle while we work—indeed, as in I Thess. 5:17 we should “pray without ceasing.” Here on earth, we are to constantly lift our hearts to Christ as we go through the day—in communion with Him; in heaven, oh joy!, we will be side-by-side with our Best Friend! I do not think we will be able to help exclaiming in delight over His power, majesty, glory, and honor as we ever find new facets of His person and work.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” Rev. 4:8b.
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your Will they existed, and were created.” Rev. 4:11.
Over and over, the same chorus binding the praise together, different voices, high, low, quiet, trumpeting, lilting, flowing, marching, poignant, beautiful, and best of all—never ending.
Running (and praising) with you,
Rebecca