Have you noticed that you stand up when you are worried or feel you are losing control?
If you get excited, you stand up. When you worry, you stand up and pace. If you are forced to wait you stand up and sit down, stand up and sit down. There are occasions when you stand up to make your point, and there are times when you stand to defend your point.
Standing is more intense—passionate—than sitting.
Control. Anticipation. Worry. Waiting. Vision. Power. Authority. A plotted coup. Enemy agents lurking. All of these—and more—are issues surrounding God and His people. And yet, He is seated on His throne. While we may feel out of control, God is not threatened by anything ominous or frightening.
I don’t find any Scriptures that talk of our Father wringing His hands or getting up to get a bromide. It would really surprise me to find that He has chewed off one of His fingernails. Somehow I cannot picture Him saying, “Well, I never thought about that.” Or, “Uh-oh.” And I certainly don’t see Him jumping up and screaming, “Oh no! How did that happen?!”
He is secure enough, and confident enough, and big enough, and powerful enough to keep His seat…no matter what.
Don’t get the wrong idea: It isn’t that He doesn’t care. On the contrary! He cares immensely. Anyone committed enough to “do” Calvary cares! He just is not worried, or threatened, or fearful, or out of control.
There are times when the daily storm howls loudly enough that I need a little more confidence than simply knowing the Spirit indwells me. So, while clinging to His indwelling presence, I focus on the fact that no matter how bad it is here, it is not bad enough to cause Him to get up from His seat. Whatever anxiety, doubts, and issues are encircling me, they are not enough to wrench me from His hands (Jn. 10:29). Even though it might feel like it to me, there is simply no need for Him to get up and take additional action. Everything is under control.
So, is there anything that gets God out of His chair?
Jesus told a great story of God standing up. He begins the scene with God seated, indicative of the respect, honor, position, and esteem due Him. But He also portrays God as subject to stress. Worry lurks. He is waiting. His power is harnessed and His authority is in check. But, He remains patient. In Christ’s story, He is watching…looking for me (ref. Lk. 15:11 ff).
As I make my way down the road toward home—from who knows where—Jesus says God sees me from a long way off. Doing the unexpected, not clinging to His reputation, dignity, or position, He behaves un-Godlike: He jumps from His seat—acting much more like a Father than like omnipotent God—and runs down the road to meet me shedding whatever impediment gets in His way.
What do you make of that, my friend? Think of all the important matters before God Almighty! Would the President, or CEO, or Chairman get up to meet you if you showed up unannounced, especially if you had inconvenienced him?
As nearly as I can tell, there is only one thing important enough for God to leave His throne. All of the universe’s challenges, ills, opportunities, and benefits do not compare in His mind to the importance of one man heading home. Apparently, it does not matter an iota where the trip commenced, only that the journey turns toward Father’s gaze.
For all of the security I find in God being seated on His throne, I find more knowing He does not hesitate to leave His throne and run to meet me…wherever.
Bless you, friend. Don’t ever forget: You are loved,
PS No matter where we are on the road, there are two images that provide great comfort: One is of God seated on His throne, holding us and the times of our lives in His capable hands. The other is of Him running to meet us.
