OUR CONSTANT FOCUS - REV. 4
I. Introduction
The very first time I went whitewater rafting was one summer when I worked at a Christian camp in central Alberta. We got some instructions on the bank before setting out, had a lengthly discussion about safety equipment and procedures, and some practice in basic techniques along the shore. I was very clear of my role - and very focussed on what I was supposed to do as the "Right-Front" paddler. Our guide explained that the way we kept ourselves in the boat (which is a bit of a priority, I’ll admit), was by wedging our feet into the bottom of the boat. Unfortuately, I was more focussed on my paddling responsibility than on keeping myself in the boat, and so the very first rapid we hit I went tumbling out of the boat and began whitewater rafting "bareback!". Quite simply, my focus was wrong and I paid the consequence. Luckily, we had been instructed in what to do should we fall out of the boat, and so as soon as I hit the near-freezing water (and the initial "OH NO I’M GOING TO DIE" panic subsided), I adjusted my focus and did what I needed to do to remain safe and get pulled back into the boat. And I can assure you that once back in the boat my focus was adjusted and I spent much more time concentrating on staying in the boat.
The point is, I had to adjust my focus. Sometimes we need to adjust the focus of our lives as well. Often our tendency as human beings is to take our eyes off of God and look only at the situation life finds us in, and we get overwhelmed.
My main point this morning is that our focus must be on God - we must always be focussed on God. We’re going to examine chapter 4 of the book of Revelation, and from this find three areas that need to be our constant focus, in the midst of difficult times and during those rare times when life is running along smoothly: first, we need to Focus on God’s position; second, we need to Focus on God’s power; and third, we need to focus on God’s perfection.
I want you to turn to Revelation chapter 4. As you’re finding it, let me give you just a bit of background on the book of Revelation before diving into this chapter, because I know that there is a great diversity in how people feel about this particular book of the Bible - some people are really scared by it, some are intrigued and curious, still others find great encouragement and comfort, and lots just decide to ignore it because they can’t figure any of it out!.
The purpose of the book of Revelation is very clear - it was written to encourage Christians. It’s main, number one purpose, is encouragement. Now, some of you who have read the book and remember the plagues and death and war and strife and terrible pain that is described, as God pours out His wrath on the world; you may be wondering how this could possibly be a book of encouragement. Well, the answer is in the broad perspective of the entire book. I can over-simplify it by saying this: There is a huge struggle between God and Satan, between good and evil, and it’s ugly and painful and difficult, and God wins. Satan is destroyed. There is where the encouragement lies - God wins! Satan can do his worst, can throw everything in his arsenal at us as God’s children, but it is not going to be enough. God will be victorious and Satan will be crushed and rendered powerless for eternity. The encouragement is found in the security that we know the end of the story! We know who wins - who is more powerful - who is more worthy of our love and service
The first three chapters of Revelation are a series of visions for specific churches that existed at the time of the writing of this book, with specific instructions for each. Revelation chapter 4 begins a new section, where John’s visions of the cosmic struggle between God and Satan, and the eventual outcome, begins. It is fascinating and instructive that the entire revelation begins in the throne room of heaven, with the focus (1) on God’s position - in the center, on the throne, (2) a focus on God’s power and (3) a focus on God’s perfection. This chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book.
(read Revelation 4)
I. Focus on God’s Position
We need to constantly have our focus tweaked so that we are centered on God. The very first thing I want to look at in Revelation chapter 4 is the Focus on God’s position. John, the recipient and recorder of these visions, is ushered into the very throne room of heaven (verses 1 and 2 describe his invitation and response). He writes (vs. 2-3) " At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian (these were precious stones, jasper likely a clear stone,and carnelian a firey red stone). A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. " So we see, from this picture of the throne room of heaven, that God is in the center. Everything else - the emerald rainbow, the thrones of the 24 elders, even the 4 living creatures mentioned a little later on, are described as around the throne of God - focussed exclusively on God’s position in the center of heaven. John sees God on His throne in the center of everything else. God exalted above everything else. God in control of everything - period. This is the first Focus - on God’s position
I want to pause here to ask you this question: when you look at your life, is God at the center? Have you granted him permission to come in and control your life - to occupy the throne in your heart? What position does He hold in your life - supreme ruler, or is He more like an advisor that you, as supreme ruler, occassionally turn to for advice when your own wisdom runs out? I want you to take an honest look at your heart - your motivations and your actions - and ask yourself whether God is at the center of your life or you are. Where is your focus?
It’s an important question to answer, because the rest of the book of Revelation details what happens to those who do not acknowledge Christ as their king - those who do not focus on God and make Him the center of their lives - and its not a pretty sight! On the other hand, for those that do acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King the rewards are great, and garunteed - eternity in paradise!
If you’ve never made Jesus the center of your life - asked Him to be your king - then listen carefully, because your eternity is in jeopardy. 2000 years ago, Jesus left the scene we’ve just read in Revelation 4 to come to earth and live among us. He lived among us, and taught us many things about God’s character and His love for mankind. And then He was crucified - hung on a cross like a common criminal. But here is the important part: He rose from the dead. Jesus defeated the power of death! Death was not strong enough to hold Him! So what does that have to do with you and the center of your life? This. When you make Jesus your king, death’s hold over you is broken as well. When you make Jesus your king, death’s hold over you is broken as well. The Bible says this: (Rom.6:5) "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." This morning will you choose to make Jesus the center of your life?
Maybe you have asked Jesus to be the center of your life in the past, but have since taken back control. When I asked you to take an honest look at yourself, if you had to answer that you were back on the throne instead of God, or that you’ve placed something else at the center of your life (like money or success or pride), then you have some work to do this morning. You need to repent of that sin and accept God’s promise of forgiveness and restoration.
I’ve tried to state these things very strongly this morning on purpose. The Bible takes the issue of "who is the center (or Lord, if you prefer) of your life very seriously. My purpose is not to discourage or frighten you, but rather to communicate the truth that God must be at the center of our lives - we must make Him our Lord, and give all of our allegiance to Him, and focus on Him and on Him alone.
Now, how does a Focus on God’s position help you and I as we go about our daily lives? Well, when we are focussed on God’s position - at the center of our universe and at the center of our lives, our foundation will be secure. The fundamental ideas of who we are and how we fit into our universe will be answered in a convincing and powerful way. When Jesus is truly our Lord, we know for certain who we serve - we know that we are servants of the one and only God - and we know that He has accepted us and welcomed us into His very own family. That perspective will give us strength to face whatever challenges we face in this world. We know who we are and who we serve. Focussing on God’s position allows us to retain a "big picture" perspective that will help keep us from becoming overwhelmed by the situations we find ourselves in.
II. Focus on God’s Power
The second Focus I find in Revelation 4 is a focus on the power of God. There are at least two images of the power of God demonstrated in this chapter, and the first is the one we have just finished discussion - God on the throne. The throne is the seat of power and authority, and the place from which God exercises His power and dominion.
Look at verse 5 - here we get the second image of the power of God. "From the throne came flashes of lightening, rumblings, and peals of thunder". These flashes of ligthening, and rumblings, and peals of thunder are pictures of God’s awesome power - they are images designed to communicate to the reader something of the scope and magnitude of the power of God.
We often hear reports on the news of the power of the forces of nature - whether it is from flooding or hurricance or earthquake. Those pictures always remind me how frail all of our civilization is in comparison to the power of God. We have wonderful technologies and well-trained and rehersed response teams to emergency situations - but there is really little they can do when the very ground begins to shake and roads and airport runways fold up like pieces of paper! This verse in Revelation 4 provides us with a wonderful image that reminds us of the power of God.
I found it a wonderful encouragement as I studied this passage that God is still on the throne of the universe, ruling it in power. He has not left us alone down here to fumble around by ourselves in the dark. He has not abandonded us to suffer through this life without any offer of guidance or direction. He has not planned for us to have a miserable existance in this life. No, He is very active, and the power is still flowing from His throne, just like the picture in Revelation 4 shows us. And the power is flowing for the benefit and assistance of those who call Jesus their Lord and king. He is still in control, and He is still working powerfully in our world. Remember that. Focus on that. And be encouraged by that.
It is important to note as we focus on God’s power that we control how much it flows in our lives. God’s power to work in and through us is dependant upon our cooperation. It works a lot like a tap. By turning the tap on just a small bit, you get just a few drips of water. By opening it up more, you allow more water to flow. It is possible for us to limit the ability of God to work in our lives. As we focus on the power of God, and open ourselves to Him, we allow God to work on us - molding us deeper into His image - and through us - to spread His message of hope and salvation to all mankind.
Once again, how does this focus help you and I in our daily lives? Well, when we are focussed on God’s power (by which He created everything out of nothing and through which he continues to uphold and sustain the laws of nature and by which He manages to meet all of our concerns and needs) - when we are focussed on God’s power, flowing from His throne, what problem that we face is going to seem overwhelming? What situation would leave us feeling hopeless? What mountain will seem insurmountable? When we are focussed on the power of God that flows from His throne, we can face every situation in our lives with boldness, courage, and confidence in how God will work things together for His glory. What a wonderful hope - what a secure anchor - what a worthy focus.
III. Focus on God’s perfection
The third and final focus that I find in Revelation chapter 4 is a focus on God’s perfection. He is a Holy God, perfect in every way, completely and totally morally pure. vs 6: "Before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal". Although some scholars disagree on the symbolism here, the most likely and convincing interpretation is of this is an image of God’s holiness - his purity. We find the same emphasis in the worship offered by the four living creatures, halfway through vs. 8: "Day and night they never stop saying: ’Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’" The focus in the worship of those creatures surrounding the throne is on the holiness of God’s character.
So how does focussing on God’s perfection help us? As I thought about the three focusses I’ve talked about today, focus on God’s position, focus on God’s power, and focus on God’s perfection, and as I considered how these help us in our daily lives, I came to the conclusion that this one helps the most. Let me explain my two reasons why:
First, as we focus on the holiness of God we are immediatly confronted with our own sin in comparison. When Isaiah was ushered into this same throne room, he fell to the ground and cried "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live amoung a people of unclean lips, and (now) my eyes have seen the king, the Lord Almighty." (Is. 6:5). Focussing on God’s holiness makes us realize our sinfulness. How does that help? Often, not always, our problems are partially of our own making. Isn’t that right? Don’t we often get oursleves into a problem as a result of an act of sin. That’s our human nature! Focussing on God’s holiness reveals our sinfulness,which we can then identify as contributing to the problem in the first place. And that changes our attitude regarding how we approach the situation - we are willing to accept our responsibility, and we can then work to correct the wrong we did. Most of the time, the other people involved will respond positively in that kind of environment and admit their part, and resolution can be found.
The second reason why this focus is the most helpful is that our focus on the holiness of God keeps us from sinning in the midst of the problem. If our own sin is often part of the cause of the problem, our sinful actions are often what make the problem larger. This is a great help to us! Focussing on the holiness of God in the midst of a difficult situation in our lives will greatly decrease our propensity to sin in the midst of the problem. Instead of completely having a fit and storming into the bosses office to yell and scream (and maybe cuss?) and demand an apology for the mistreatment you have suffered (which is more likely to make the problem bigger), a focus on the holiness of God gives us pause to consider our actions and the morality of what we would like to do. We can then moderate our actions and maintain our integrity while working hard towards a resolution of the problem.
IV. Conclusion
Revelation chapter 4 is a beautiful picture of our God. We need to take from this chapter the overall importance of focussing on God - Focus on God’s position - acknowledge God at the center of the universe and make Him the center of your life. Second, Focus on God’s Power - what problem in our lives will seem insurmountable when our focus is on the power of God!?! Finally, Focus on God’s perfection - on His holiness - and allow that focus to first purge you of sinful actions and attitudes and second keep you from falling back into sinful ways.
Let’s take this focus into the future. Let’s agree together that we are going to focus soley on God and live in obedience to His every command. Can you imagine where God is going to take us as a body with this kind of focus? What an exciting prospect! What an encouragement! And what a joy we will find together as we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.
Focus on God’s position, His power, and His perfection, and enjoy the ride.
