There are two wonderful words that don’t often appear together outside of Christianity—lamb and throne. “And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:10). 

A throne is a place for a king, a position of power and honor and authority. If you sit on a throne, you get what you want. You have the last word. You live in a palace filled with servants, far from the pain of the streets. A lamb, on the contrary, is a symbol of humility, sacrifice, and substitution. In the Bible, lambs died on altars so that kings could sit on thrones.

But in heaven we find something unique—the One on/near the throne is a lamb! As the Lord of lords, King Jesus could have stayed in the comfort of the palace. Instead he chose the pain of the altar we call the cross. As the Son of God, Jesus could have used his authority for his own security. Instead he chose humility, adversity, and tragedy. Jesus was our King but, in love, chose to become our Lamb.

That thought is enough to send the saints and angels into endless praise. Will you join them today? Salvation belongs to our God! Hallelujah and Amen!