September 9 | Evening

0:007 September 9th, evening. Around the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the thrones were 24 elders clothed in white garments. Revelation 4. These representatives of the saints in heaven are said to be around the throne. In the passage in Solomon's song where he sings of the king sitting at his table, some render it a round table. From this, some expositors, 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 24 elders. The condition of glorified spirits in heaven is that of nearness to Christ. Clear vision of his glory, constant access to his court,

1:00and familiar fellowship with his person. There is no difference in this respect between one saint and another, but all the people of God, apostles, martyrs, ministers, or private and obscure Christians will all be seated near the throne, where they shall have a perfect view of their exalted Lord and be satisfied with his love. They will all be near Christ, all satisfied with his love, all eating and drinking at the same table with him, all equally loved as his favourites and friends, even if not all equally rewarded as his servants. Believers on earth should imitate the saints in heaven in their nearness to Christ. We should be like the elders in heaven, sitting around the throne. Christ should be the object of our thoughts and the centre of our lives. How can we endure to live at such a distance from him? Lord Jesus, draw us nearer to

2:02yourself, say to us, abide in me and I in you, and let us sing holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was an is and is to come? O lift me higher nearer thee, and as I rise more pure and fit, O let my soul's humility make me lie lower at thy feet, less trusting self the more I prove the blessed comfort of thy love. This has been morning and evening, a production of Crossway.