Because of Who He Is (Rev. 4:7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 04/15/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus:  Because of who He Is

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Revelations 4:7

 

            Message of the verse:  “The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.”  (NAS95)  “The first living creature is like a lion, the second is like a calf, the third has a face like a man, and the fourth living creature appears like an eagle in flight.”  Philips)

            I have read about two different viewpoints as to what this verse could mean, and maybe neither one of them is correct.  The first on is from Dr. Wiersbe’s book on Revelations, “Be Victorious,” and he believes that the faces of these living creatures parallel God’s statement in Genesis 9:10 which was God’s covenant with Noah as the face of the man would be with Noah, and the face of the fowl would be the eagle, the cattle would be the face of the calf, and the beasts of the earth would be the face of the lion.  The other viewpoint on this verse would be that each of these beings would represent one of the ways that Jesus Christ is presented in the four gospels.  “Matthew is the royal Gospel of the King, illustrated by the lion.  Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the Lord’s ministry (the calf).  Luke presents Christ as the compassionate Son of man.  John magnifies the deity of Christ, the Son of God (the eagle).”  (This quote from “Be Victorious.) 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I have stated before concerning some of these verses that are in Revelations, that it is hard to get my arms wrapped around them to understand them well enough to know exactly what the true meaning of them is, and I would say that I do not always have to know what the actual meaning of these verses are, but that I do need to realize that they are part of God’s Word, and that there are some things in God’s Word that I may never fully understand.  With all of this said I do believe that this verse is part of the worship scene that continually goes on in heaven, and that these four living beings are a part of this worship scene, and even though I do not know exactly all that there is to know about them I do know that this is all about true worship to the God of heaven, and that I too need to live my life in a way that is all about worship to the Triune God of Heaven.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not upon my own understanding, in all of my ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct my path.