Eyes to See

We studied Revelation 4 today in High School Sunday School. Prior to reading the text we enterred the church and walked through the physical plant. We looked at the pews, the place we "live" in the world, we ascended the stairs to the choir. Here is the church at prayer and worship. We call out our praise and thanks to God, we sing His glory, we beg His mercy and forgiveness, we ask for His providential provision. We continue the climb and come to the altar, we kneel and reach out to heaven's Lord. We look at the altar where Jesus has spread out a banquest feast, a table of nourishment, and we see the cross, the meal is a share in His death and resurrection: His body, His blood.

The tragedy is how often we fail to "see" what we see. Our eyes and hearts cannot penetrate the mystery. we are weary and distracted. Our senses dulled and our spirits diminished. There is a glorious reality which our sight does not penetrate. O for the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the heart to know and worship and obey. Reading Chapter 4 of the Revelation (literally, "the unveiling") was a reminder that we live in a world much richer than we can imagine. In praying and opening ourselves to God the heavenly worship going on all around us can be discerned.

We modern people live in an age of radio and tv. We know, even if we do not think about it, that programs are swirling all about us at every moment of each day. Right now the room in which you sit has songs which cannot be heard, games which cannot be watched, programs which cannot be enjoyed, because you are not tuned in. With a radio or tv you can suddenly enjoy these and more. Our faith and spirituality work the same way. we can hear the unheard angel choirs with faith, we can understand the voice of God by listening, we can know the truth, that God is in His heaven and all is (will be) right with the world.

Today I am more aware. As my son said in class, "Church is boring when we aren't paying attention." Wisdom! When we are attentive and giving ourselves, we might catch a peak into the glory that surrounds us. I pray that all of you had that sort of experience today in your place of worship. Now we begin a new week, a chance to pray, to study Scripture, to serve in His Name---a chance to prepare again for the Sunday gathering!