Last week, we studied the words of Solomon who described himself as “…on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation” (Prov. 5:14). What caused this? Because he hated instruction, despised correction, chose disobedience and refused to listen. Every Christian needs to be aware of how this could happen to them in the assembly.
On the other hand, in that same assembly of Christians, there are those who understand that in so many respects the assembly of the saints is like entering the foyer of heaven. A foyer is a space near the entrance of a building, hotel or theater. We are not yet in heaven but are in the adjoining foyer!
Worship is a “foyer” because of the praise and adoration of God. Almost every picture of heaven shows it is filled with praise and adoration. Hundreds of years before Jesus came, Isaiah saw heavenly beings above the throne praising God and saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:3), and in the last book of the Bible those words are still being said (Rev. 4:8).
The same book then looks at all the creation, and John hears the voices of myriads of angels praising God. He then says, “And every creature which is in heaven and in the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea…” were all praising our Lord (Rev. 5:12-13). The same happens in our assemblies! Being in worship is like being in heaven’s “foyer.”
Worship is a “foyer” because of the association with the saints. Since the beginning there have been godly people, sanctified by the blood of Jesus, who will be in heaven. Imagine being around all those who have loved God with all their being and loved their neighbors as they loved themselves. That is who is in that heavenly assembly, and that is the nature of many who worship with us every week. We associate with the godliest people on earth, with whom we will worship eternally with all the godly people who have ever lived. Worship is truly a “foyer” of heaven.
Worship is a “foyer” because of the association with our Lord. Someday, we will be with the Lord forever and ever, but that association with Him begins on this earth. In the assembly, we pray in His name, give our gifts to Him, listen to Him speak, eat around His table and sing with Him (John 16:24; 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Thess. 2:13; Matt. 26:29; Heb. 2:12). The association does not begin after the resurrection. It is here now—in the “foyer” of heaven!
Our attitude of heart in the assembly determines whether we, like Solomon, are on the verge of ruin in the assembly or are sitting in the “foyer” of heaven while we are experiencing that which we sing about, “Blessed assurance…Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!” It’s up to us.