The following are some reflections on a "throne" perspective of ministry from Pastor David Michael:
What Isaiah saw [Isaiah 6:1-4] was surreal for him, and how much more for us. What Isaiah saw was so far outside his experience, and it is even more outside of our experience. It is difficult for us to connect to this scene. The Lord, high and lifted up—a royal robe with a train...Six-winged seraphim. Powerful voices shaking the thresholds, and filling the house with smoke burning coals, tongs. That’s nothing like what I’ve experienced. Even in the describing of it, it doesn’t come close to the reality. It’s like looking at a snapshot of the Grand Canyon. The snapshot doesn’t give justice to the view. Being there is incredible. What is surreal to us now will one day be real for everyone in this room—for all our children and for all who are yet to be born. We will all see the Lord sitting on the throne. I take this from Revelation 20:12-13, And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Every face you see in your classroom or at your kitchen table will see the Lord, seated on his throne confessing Jesus as Lord. They will be either calling to the mountains and rocks: ”Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,” (Revelation 6:16) Or they will be shouting: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns….Worthy is the lamb who was slain…so that our guilt is taken away, our sins atoned for” (from Revelation 19:6, Revelation 5:12, and Isaiah 6:7). Keeping the throne room in view and keeping the last day in view has been for me a way to keep a right perspective in ministry to children, youth and families. This reinforces a sense of urgency—a seriousness about our task. Look into the faces of children—or anyone for that matter, and be reminded, that face will one day be in the presence of this holy, high, lifted-up God. That head will bow, those knees will bend, that tongue will confess Jesus is Lord.You can read his whole message, “Let Them Bless His Holy Name Forever: Our Eternal Hope for the Next Generations” here.
