Aug 8, 2010

Indefatigable Worship of the One and Only Most Beautiful God

Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:


"You are worthy, our Lord and God,


to receive glory and honor and power,


for you created all things,


and by your will they were created


and have their being."

Revelation 4:6-11

I remember wondering how the angels in heaven could continually chant, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.' Wouldn't they get tired, wouldn't they get bored? How did they have the energy?
Those are some of the foolish thoughts I had as an 18 year old. But then I realized that God is so ravishing, beautiful and intelligent, and sublime beyond comprehension, he fills the angels and the universe so that they cannot help but well up, they cannot  help but eternally explode in worship with 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.' Every time they say it, it bears repeating, for saying it just once does not get at the grandeur of God. Saying it for three million years doesn't do God justice. He is so beautiful, so glorious, that they cannot help but indefatigably proclaim the beyond-measure glory and beauty of God. Praise and worship ceaselessly flows and escapes from their mouths in the form of 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come' because God is so great and glorious and good and beautiful--the most wise and perfect being.

 His love and beauty and glory continuously inspires their ceaseless praise. It awakens them and energizes them moment by moment and they give up those moments in praise.

Here in this post I find myself a fool. I reveal my incompetence. My lack is displayed for all to see, because I cannot in this moment craft the words that describe the virtually indescribable glory and beauty of God. But I know he is inifintely beyond the good and the true and the beautiful that I can imagine and far beyond what I can describe.And I guess the point is, I understand why the angels are unceasing in their praise.                                       

1 comment:

Justin Dodson said...

Good word! It's amazing how near-sighted we can be. I look forward to reading your thoughts on here!