Hovering over a great multitude this morning. A great multitude that can’t be numbered. A multitude from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. All standing together. Clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And with a loud voice worshiping together (Rev. 7:9-10). And I worship through them, at my desk. And I wait to one day worship with them, before the throne.

And the thing I’m mulling over this morning is that, in that day and place when all those who have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14) are before the throne of God, they will be sheltered, shepherded, and soothed.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve Him day and night in His temple;
and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and He will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

(Revelation 7:15-17 ESV)

Sheltered with His presence. Shepherded and guided to springs of living waters. Soothed as every tear is wiped away from their eyes. Chew on that for a bit.

What will the security of heaven be like? What safety? What shalom? I can only imagine what it will be like in that day to be sheltered with His visible glory.

But the journey doesn’t end at the throne. We’ll be guided to springs of living water by the Lamb who is our great and good Shepherd. We’ll drink deep an ocean’s fullness of eternal refreshment and revitalization.

But not before every tear is wiped from our eyes. The sorrow for sin, the suffering from sickness, the sobbing over death, all erased . . . blotted away . . . obliterated . . . remembered no more.

What a day that will be . . . I can’t wait!

But as I noodle on it, I realize afresh that I don’t need to wait for “that day” to be sheltered, shepherded, and soothed. Though not yet, that day is yet now.

The presence of God known through the Spirit given as a guarantee. Shelter available.

The guidance of God available through the Son who lives in me and His word before me. The Lord is (as in right now) my shepherd.

The comfort of God available through the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction” (2Cor. 1:3-4). Our souls soothed even as He knows and collects our tears (Ps. 56:8) for that day when they are forever removed.

What a day today can be . . . No waiting needed!

By His grace. For His glory.