One of my all-time favorite moments during a Children’s Sermon in worship came when I asked the children what they thought heaven was like. A little three-year-old boy sat thoughtfully by my side as the other children yelled out answers that included clouds, gold roads, blue skies, and the like. Finally he raised his chubby little hand and waited for me to call on him. “Well, Alex, what do you think heaven is like?” I asked. “Miss Betsy, I think heaven is a place where you don’t have to worry about going tee-tee in your pants.”

Oh, my goodness.

Yes, indeed, little person! Heaven is exactly like that. A place of no worries, no tears, no troubles … and certainly no potty-training.

Our Scripture today gives us a startling and heavy-laden vision of heaven from John, as he wrote from exile on the Island of Patmos. Like Jesus’ parables, John’s visions were highly symbolic, reminding us that we will never completely understand what heaven is like until we get there. But one thing is sure: The reality of heaven will far surpass everyone’s idea or vision of it. We can’t possibly imagine what that Glory will be like.

Revelation 4 (Common English Bible)

⁶ Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne.

In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. ⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was and is and is coming.”

John’s four creatures are reminiscent of Ezekiel’s visions of cherubim. (See Ezekiel 1:4-14.) They lived to worship a holy and mighty Lord, and their worship continued day and night. The symbols of lion, ox, human, and eagle might mean anything from representing an arrangement of four gathered tribes of Israel around the throne, to the four Gospels, to Jesus himself, but we should focus on the non-stop worship they offered. This is a reminder to us that worship should be practiced every day, not just on Sunday. What practice of worship do you incorporate into your daily routine?

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives forever and always, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall before the one seated on the throne. They worship the one who lives forever and always. They throw down their crowns before the throne and say,

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
        to receive glory and honor and power,
            because you created all things.
                It is by your will that they existed and were created.”

And just as we can’t fathom the meaning of the four creatures, we couldn’t possibly ascertain what these twenty-four elders are meant to represent. So, let’s focus on their casting their crowns before the throne. Surely this humble act of obeisance was their way of rendering honor to the true King on the throne, who was worthy to receive all honor, glory, and power as the One who created all things. This is a challenge to us to be sure we too are willing to cast our crowns before God, relying on him for everything and removing any obstacle that might prevent us from true worship.

Are there things that get in your way from honoring God night and day? Do you try to act out of your own power rather than defer to God’s will? Are you holding on to your crown too tightly?

May God give us a taste of heaven on earth and help us learn how to worship in ways that please him.

Glory by Michelle Robertson