Oddly, one of my favorite childhood memories is that my father’s reading chair. It was softly padded, unlike the hard wooden desk seats at school. And it was covered in a wonderfully warm brown textured woven fabric. It had a separate footrest with wheels so that it could roll easily across the old wooden floors. I remember a time when I was called into my father’s room so that he could review my most recent report card and my progress at school.
It felt like I was entering the inner sanctum of our home, a very special place. As I knocked softly, my father motioned with his hand for me to enter and then he gently pointed to the footstool at his side. I took my seat next to him. Nodding, he reached for my report card, glanced it over slowly, and then began our conversation.
Today, as a Christian life coach, I realize that this memory serves me well as I grow in my Christian walk. It gives me the ability to imagine that, as my heavenly Father, God wants to talk with me and invites me to sit with Him on His throne.
As I share this story with my clients, I realize that many Christians do not understand the purpose or the meaning of being invited into God’s throne room. Today, we are going to explore the Biblical understanding of God’s throne and throne room, and perhaps most importantly, I’ll share with you 5 ways that you can enter His throne room and draw closer to God.
Introduction
From the Old Testament Bible, the Hebrew word for throne means a seat of honor and dignity. It also represents one’s power and authority to rule a people and a kingdom. For example, King Solomon’s throne was, according to Hebrew tradition (www.chabad.org), located in the Lebanon Forest just outside the City of Jerusalem. It was made from ivory and overlaid with the precious gold metal. His throne is described in 1 Kings 10:18-20:
18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the best gold.
19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
Here in the throne room, King Solomon met with his counselors, maintained the peace of his kingdom, administered matters of law and justice, and saw visiting ambassadors and dignitaries. Solomon’s throne reflected his position, power, and authority.
Purpose and Meaning
But what about God and His throne room? The Bible tells us that the throne room is where God dwells and reigns as King over all creation. It is a place of great power and majesty, where God’s glory is revealed. And, although, the Bible does not give us a specific physical location for the throne room of God, it does describe it as being in the third heaven, above the earth in the City of God.
The Bible gives us important glimpses into the throne room of God (e.g. Psalm 104:1-4 & Psalm 99:1-9). Notably, in the book of Revelation, the apostle John sees a vision in which God is seated on a throne of jasper and surrounded by twenty-four elders, four living creatures, and seven lamps of fire burning (Revelation 4:2-11). the throne room is sometimes described as being a place of great light and glory, and other times as being a place of great mystery and wonder.
The book of Isaiah adds to our understanding. The prophet Isaiah sees a vision in which God is seated on a high and lofty throne, surrounded by seraphim. filled with smoke, and seraphim crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! (Isaiah 6:1-5).”
Although there are many more bible passages about God’s throne, these descriptions suggest that the throne room of God is a place of great beauty and splendor. And we learn a lot from these descriptions, especially about God’s very nature. For example, we find that:
- God is holy and majestic. We should approach him with reverence and awe.
- God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He is in control of everything that happens in the world.
- God is loving and merciful. He wants to have a relationship with us.
- God is just and righteous. He will judge all people according to their deeds.
- God is a God of grace and forgiveness. He is willing to forgive us if we repent of our sins.
Suggestions & Summary
Without a doubt, the throne room of God is a place of great mystery and wonder. Perhaps, most importantly, because of the sacrifice that Jesus made on Calvary’s cross (Hebrews 4:16), it is the place where we can bring our prayers and requests to God and know that He hears us and will answer us.
There are many ways to draw closer to God’s throne. Here are a few suggestions:
- Pray. Prayer is the most direct way to communicate with God. When we pray, we are inviting God into our lives and asking for His help and guidance.
- Read the Bible. The Bible is God’s word to us. When we read the Bible, we are learning about God and His character.
- Attend church. Church is a place where we can worship God and connect with other believers. It is also a place where we can learn more about God and His Word.
- Serve others. When we serve others, we are imitating God’s love and compassion. This is a powerful way to draw closer to Him.
- Spend time in silence and reflection. This can be a time to listen to God’s voice and to be still in His Presence.
As I sit and think about the days passed, the memory of my earthly father sitting in his reading chair reminds me not only of his counsel to succeed and the commitment involved but it reminds me of his love for me; a time of closeness and understanding. Importantly, the memory also extends itself into my spiritual walk and encourages me at the age of 73, that, because of Jesus, our Heavenly Father invites us to enter and sit with Him in His throne room to talk about our concerns, share with us His direction, His love, and His wisdom.
Living Life's Way 