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Morning and Evening

September 9, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment." — Revelation 4:4 · KJV

These representatives of the saints in heaven are said to be around the throne. In the Song, where Solomon sings of the King sitting at his table, some render it "a round table"; and from this, some interpreters — I think 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. The condition of glorified spirits in heaven is one of nearness to Christ, clear vision of His glory, constant access to His court, and familiar fellowship with His person; and in this respect there is no difference between one saint and another. All the people of God — apostles, martyrs, ministers, or obscure private Christians — shall be seated near the throne, where they shall for ever gaze on their exalted Lord and be satisfied with His love. They shall all be near Christ, all ravished with His love, all eating and drinking at the same table with Him, all equally beloved as His favorites and friends, even if not all equally rewarded as servants. Let believers on earth imitate the saints in heaven in their nearness to Christ. Let us be here as the elders are there, sitting around the throne. May Christ be the object of our thoughts and the center of our lives! How can we bear to live at such a distance from our Beloved? Lord Jesus, draw us nearer to Yourself; say to us, "Abide in Me, and I in you"; and let us sing, "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me." O lift me higher, nearer You; and as I rise more pure and fit, let my soul's humility make me lie lower at Your feet, that, trusting self less, I may the more prove the blessed comfort of Your love.