Someone encouraged me recently to read Revelation 4 to “see what it’s like in heaven right now.” Not a bad word. We can see what things are like here on earth, and they are sometimes discouraging. What’s going on in heaven?

John gives us a picture that’s a little hard to get hold of, so maybe we should just “feel it,” rather than try to analyze it:

…and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

• the first living creature like a lion,
• the second living creature like an ox,
• the third living creature with the face of a man,
• and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 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, saying,

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4.6 – 11, ESV, emphasis mine)

What a picture! And what a throne! And it’s this throne that the writer of Hebrews invites us to approach:

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4.16, NKJV)

Come boldly to THAT throne…

• Mercy – not getting punishment I deserve.
• Grace to help in time of need – receiving help that I don’t deserve.

What’s your need right now? I have a specific one in mind, and I’m approaching THAT THRONE to ask for it.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (Philippians 4.6, NLT)

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. (Psalm 93.1, 2, NKJV)