It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You need help and dial an appropriate phone number and all you get is recorded options; there is no live person to assist you. And when you do finally reach a live person, they claim they’re not the person who can help you and they put you on hold while they transfer you to someone else.

How great it is that, when it comes to getting help and relief in life, there is something, Someone, so much better! The letter to the Hebrews ties right into our age of tele-communications by providing a formula by which we can contact live Divine Aid. The number to dial is 8-476-634-7223 (THRONE GRACE). To tap into divine aid, dial the throne of grace.

Hebrews 4:16 –  “Let us then approach the throne …”  What a marvelous invitation: approach the throne.

While we’ve never really seen throne (1) we do have some impressive descriptions. Consider the Psalms.  “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth (Ps. 8:1) “…the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids test, the children of men.”(Ps. 11:4) “…the Lord sits enthroned forever over the flood. The Lord sits enthroned as king forever.”(Ps. 29:10)

The prophet Isaiah shares his vision: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1-4) The apostle John, in Revelation 4 and 5 provides yet another glorious description. The overall impression is that the throne is the seat for, the primary residence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. It is clear that the throne is the center from which emanates the power that sustains and controls our world. From this throne the Almighty, Holy God rules all worlds – at His voice heaven resounds with praise and hell trembles. And it’s at this throne where our Divine Aid begins!

But better still – this throne is THE THRONE OF GRACE. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…” (Hebrews 4:16) John’s vision includes this description. “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.” (Revelation 4:1-3)

Notice the throne is surrounded by a rainbow. (2) God’s grace is complete and full! This is not the great white throne of judgment – this is a throne of grace! God’s sovereign power and dominion are rooted in love and grace. Our Divine Aid is rooted in love and grace. From the throne we will receive loving favor, even if we are utterly undeserving. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords has a grace-filled heart! To dial the throne is to tap into grace!

This certainly changes our view of prayer. As the John Newton penned:

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay;
Therefore will not say thee nay.
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much;
None can ever ask too much.

We do not dial up the throne to beg as a pauper or to settle for scraps; we approach expectantly to receive grace. For relief the number to dial is 8-476-634-7223– the throne of grace.

And there’s more! Who do you think we get to talk to? Check in next week for more!

(1) www.iStock.com… Throne-iStock-587816160

(2) https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdubai/2579335447/