Originally published September 15, 2012
Yesterday was Independence Day in Nicaragua. The patio of our house is shared with a church building that is directly in front of the house, so when they are having a service they have the doors open leading to the patio. I am sure we would be able to hear them even if the building was closed up, but with the door open, it is like we are there attending. The service started at 7pm and was still going on when I went to bed at 9:30pm (I haven’t completely adjusted to the time difference so it feels like 11:30pm to me by then). I woke up at 12:15am to them singing “Open the Eyes to my Heart” in Spanish, followed by ”How Great Thou Art”, then a song I did not recognize, and then a sermon. I remained awake until about 1am, so at that point they had been worshiping for six hours. And I have no idea what time they actually ended the service. On a holiday. On an ordinary Sunday, I have never heard of a church in America worshiping for six hours, even shorter on a holiday because people have plans with their families. While I lay awake during the midnight hour, I thought about how we should want to worship at great lengths as well. Not to keep up, not to brag, but out of a heart for Christ. After all, that is really a picture of Heaven- we are going to be worshiping.
“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
Revelation 4
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Are we worshiping first and all else is second? Or are we fitting worship into our already busy schedule? I am praying to have more of a heart of worship. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.