“…and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.” Ezekiel 1:26
Dear Ones:
There is one constant in this universe, and in time, that by its very nature and essence, does not change, or is altered by anything of heaven and earth. We find it revealed in the book of Ezekiel, when the prophet was among the exiles “…in the land of the Chaldeans.” (Ez. 1:3) A vision of God is given to Ezekiel, one that is so overwhelming that he falls on his face. That fact and reality of this eternal, unchanging Person, sovereign Creator and Redeemer,” would be a frightful, and overwhelming realization, were it not for the truth and revelation of His unaltering mercy, love, and goodness.
In the book of Isaiah, we read where he too had a vision of heaven, but primarily of “…the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train, (or robe), filled the temple. Daniel, in his writings, gives us a picture of the glorified Christ, much like we see in the book of Revelation in the first chapter. Then in chapters four and five, the Apostle John takes us to heaven to see God, the sovereign, Almighty God, sitting upon His throne in His glory, worshipped by the whole of creation. Specifically in chapter five, we see the glorified Lamb of God, having taken away the sin of the world, coming before the Father to receive the entirety of His inheritance, written down without error, and completely, in the book committed to Him. The great constant, regardless of history, the rise and fall of empires, and the revelation of God in His work and power on this earth, and finally, through His church, remains the same. He is God, the only God, and to the Lord Jesus every knee shall one day bow, acknowledging and confessing Him as Lord, the Lord of all. Why then is the revelation of God given throughout history in this manner, unveiling to us the glory of the holy, and eternal God? It is because this constant reality, Christ Himself, is the eternal Rock, in the storm, and the shifting changes and limitations of life. He is sovereign, Almighty, Creator, and Redeemer. Nothing can change that fact for nations, and for the individual believer. What then should be the effect of such knowledge to the believer?
John the Apostle wrote of the Lord Jesus, “…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn. 1:14) The incarnation of the eternal Son of God was a very difficult thing to grasp, especially in Jesus’ day. However, at Pentecost, a window of understanding was provided to the believers by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon them. It was then, that the knowledge of Christ was exponentially increased.
The Lord Jesus was ever using illustrations to unveil to his disciples, and to others of His day, the eternal realities of His person, to be believed on and lived on earth. He would speak of those who believed, and followed Him, as being sheep. As the Shepherd, He showed them he was perfect and good in every aspect of His being. Because of his holy nature, He was selfless, having come to save that which was lost, provide for those who belonged to Him, and keeping forever all who would trust in Him. One of the great marvels of this relationship between the eternal and Great Shepherd of the sheep, was that He, in His sovereignty, would call them by their names, gaining their attention, then, to lead them forth. He explained to them that He, Himself, was their “door,” not only with regard to approaching the Father, but also, their door of opportunity to serve. He was their door, by which they could know in reality this eternal Life in abundance, He had come to give to them. The sheep would recognize His voice, and follow the Shepherd.
Dear Father, In light of Thy glory, give us to know Thy Son as our Shepherd. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad