State of the Union, State of the Throne

Last night President Obama stood in front of congress and in front of the world and gave the state of the union address. I was only able to listen to about half of it because we had to get to youth group at the Decker's home, but my point in writing is not to sum up any of the points made in that speech. While I know many people write their thoughts down about our president, his politics, decisions, and so on, I've never been interested in doing so and am still not interested in the slightest. What I want to share with you is a reminder of the "State of the Throne". I've been slowly working my way through the New Testament and just this morning read Revelation 4 and 5. I find it to be incredibly providential that I would read this text just after the state of the union speech, especially considering how much I've pathetically stalled out in Revelation because, quite honestly, I'm scared of the book.

Currently, millions of Americans are worried sick about our economy and our unemployment rate. We are also worried about the health care bill passing or not passing and the seemingly constant threat of terrorism. There are many more concerns that many people have, and many of them are legitimate. But please take a moment to step outside of your current issues and worries and read Revelation 4 and 5. If properly understood, it will raise your eyes above your situation and onto the One who "created all things and by his will they existed and were created" as well as lift your eyes to Jesus who was "slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..."

In chapter 4 of Revelation, John describes the Throne in Heaven. He uses incredible, heart stirring imagery of what he saw or what things were like - I just imagine John writing down very reflectively of this true story and can only come up with so many human words to describe this very divine experience. John gets the unimaginable privilege of seeing the throne room of Heaven as it stands right now - consider it the reality beyond your reality. At this very moment, while our world scurries about like busy ants, while we fret over very trivial and very serious things alike, while we are consumed in our personal little world, God is on the throne and God is not worried or losing control (unlike us). He is the One who is worthy of our praise and deepest affections, He is the one who created all things and who is leading human history to it's eventual coming climax. He raises up leaders and brings leaders down, He is drawing men and women to himself from all walks of life, all nationalities, and out of all kinds of false religions through the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it penetrates the whole world. The state of our union may be disagreed upon (and it always will be), the issues will be there until this final act is over... but the state of the Throne has not changed.

The Ruler and Creator of all things is the Lord, He is the King of kings, He is mighty to save and is accomplishing his will on earth. He is moving throughout every nation, in the midst of earthquakes in Haiti and wars in the Middle East. He is moving with no regard to border or popularity. He is moving through underground churches in China, mega-churches in America, and house churches on every continent (does anyone live in Antarctica? If so, He's moving there too). We have reason to be concerned about political issues that affect our daily lives - please don't think I'm trashing all your cares and worries. But we have far greater reason to have secure peace and hope in times of trouble, because Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb, the One who rescued us from our sin and gives eternal life. And, no matter what the state of our union is or becomes, that will always be true.

Just some thoughts.