Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 9– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Around [God’s] throne were twenty-four seats upon which sat twenty-four elders clothed in white.”

—Revelation 4:4

These representatives of the saints in heaven are said to be around the throne. In the Song of Songs, Solomon sings of the King sitting at his table, and some translated it as “a round table.” From this, some expositors, without straining the text, have said, “There is an equality among the saints.” That idea is conveyed by the equal nearness of the twenty-four elders to the throne.

The condition of glorified spirits in heaven is that of nearness to Christ, clear vision of his glory, constant access to his court, and familiar fellowship with his person. And there is no difference in this respect between one saint and another, but all the people of God—the apostles, martyrs, ministers, or private and obscure Christians—will be seated near the throne where they will forever gaze upon their exalted Lord and be satisfied with his love. They will all be near to Christ, all ravished with his love, all eating and drinking at the same table with him, all equally loved as his favorites and friends, even if not rewarded equally as servants.

Let believers on earth imitate the saints in heaven in their nearness to Christ. Let us on earth be as the elders are in heaven, sitting around the throne, making Christ the object of our thoughts, centering our lives around him. How could we possibly endure to live at a distance from the One we love? Lord Jesus, draw us nearer to yourself. Say unto us, “Remain in me, and I in you,” and permit us to sing the song of those who are loved by him: “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.”

O Lord, lift me higher, nearer to you; and rising to make me purer and true,
O let my soul know humility sweet; as I rest with you and sit at your feet;
Less trusting in self, the more I prove the blessed comfort of your love. [M&E]