The image of an angel playing the harp in the clouds was painted on my mind from a very young age. It was a child angel very innocent and sweet, like you would picture a baby to be. But this image is so far from the images of the angels that are mentioned in the Bible!
My point is not to talk about the angels but the first thing that came to my mind when thinking about the heaven or at least it would have been when I was younger was angels playing the harp on the clouds.
This is not what we read from the revelation which we have been studying in the MakHOP lately. There is SO MUCH more happening in heaven and how angels are described is something totally different than the cute baby angel playing a small harp.
John was bowing down to an angel and the angel had to tell him, “don’t do that – focus on Jesus! Worship God!”
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev.19:10)
The central point, the focus of the events in heaven is the throne room and the one sitting on the throne! I want to fix my eyes on Him who alone deserves my worship and is worthy of all my worship! How easily I bow down to other things, other idols like John was about to bow down in front of an angel. Remember John had walked with Jesus, he was the disciple whom Jesus loved, he was leaning on Jesus’ breast and still he lost the focus for a second. Worship the one to whom the worship belongs!
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Rev.4:11)
This new year I’m challenged again to refocus on Jesus. To see him who He really is and what really is happening in the heaven right now! The worship that is going on there is not some quiet angel playing the harp but there is voices, thunders, flashes of lightnings and choirs of angels, elders and living creatures singing:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!” (Rev.4:8)
I want to see with the eyes of my heart that right now and be part of that heavenly worship and adoration that belongs only to Jesus!
Give me ears to hear what the Spirit is saying and eyes to see you in all your beauty Jesus!
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord,“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 22:4-8)