Heb. 12:28, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Rev. 4:5, “Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
Is. 6, ”In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
I listed all these verses because there’s something I want you to see. The four living creatures refer to in revelation 4 we are told in Isaiah 6 are Seraphims. The word seraphim means “burning ones,” or “fiery ones.” In Revelation 4, and in the Isaiah passage we are told they are continually crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy.” As you know the word holy simply means “other, distinct, set apart.” In the Revelation passage we are told they are filled with eyes, as they behold the beauty of the Lord. All of those eyes are necessary, for each eye, in each creature, catches a new glimpse of God’s transcendent beauty. And with each new glimpse there’s a fresh exaltation of Holy, Holy, Holy. This will go on constantly forever in the throne room reality, that we as believers will get to participate in. Talk about an anointed worship service!!!
Notice the difference in the Isaiah passage. As God’s glory fills the temple the angels cover their eyes with their wings, as they erupt in their eternal praise of His beauty. To live in His presence is to have our eyes wide open in astonished fascination, while at the same time broken before Him in humility, and wonder.
I don’t think the Seraphim burn before Him because that is their nature; I believe they burn because they are before Him in response to His nature. He is an all consuming fire, and His presence causes all things to burn. To abide in His presence is to live as a “burning one.” Passion for God is a consequence of abiding, not striving.