Experiencing God's Presence #207

Experiencing God's Presence #207

I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.

Revelation 4:2

A college professor once told me, “Who knows? Maybe heaven is boring.” His misperception was illogical—why would an amazingly creative God surround Himself with tedium?—but it’s also common. Many people think of white clouds, angels singing in predictable four-four time, and King James English as the only acceptable tongue. No passion, no adventure, no exciting pleasures. Just an eternal state of uneventful peace.

Any perception that God’s Presence is boring or in any way less than exhilarating is misguided. That kind of deception comes from only one place, and it keeps people from seeking the one Person who can fully satisfy and excite them. Though God’s Presence can calm a troubled heart, it can really stir up a complacent one.

Revelation 4 tells us what’s going on in God’s environment, and it’s thrilling to think that this scene is playing out right now. At this moment in an unseen realm, lightning flashes and thunder booms around God’s throne. Intense colors dance around Him, elders and angels cry out loudly, and bizarre, intriguing creatures stand beside Him. It’s a sensory overload for mortals like us who are accustomed to an earthly environment, even for those of us who have enjoyed Hollywood’s most impressive special effects. What’s normal for God would be an overwhelming, heart-pounding experience for us.

If you’re stagnating, ask God for more excitement in your relationship with Him. There’s nothing wrong with wanting more enjoyment in that relationship. Life can be hard, and God’s ways can be confusing, but He still wants you to experience His joy. Glimpses of His electrifying surroundings are available for those who seek them.

Lord, I want more excitement with You. I want to experience the thrill of Your Presence—for my spiritual senses to perceive the glorious commotion around Your throne. Let my heart beat faster when You draw near and let me feel the heartbeat of the creatures who worship in Your Presence.