Revelation 4:8
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

John describes these living creatures with six wings and eyes within, and at first it sounds strange to us. It sounds almost beyond imagination. But that only shows how small our present frame of reference really is. What feels unusual in our little patch of earth and time will not feel unusual at all when we stand in heaven and see things as they truly are.

I think that is worth remembering.

There are realities in the presence of God that do not fit neatly into our categories. Heaven is not strange because it is confused. It feels strange because it is pure, and we are so used to living in a fallen world that true glory sounds foreign to us.

Then John says these creatures were full of eyes within. That speaks of perception, awareness, and insight. They see much. They understand much. And usually, down here, the more a person sees, the more disappointment can creep in. The more clearly you see people, the more aware you become of their weakness. The more experience you gain, the more you realize that so many things do not satisfy the way you hoped they would.

A man says, “I thought marriage would complete me.” But it does not.

Another says, “I thought that person would finally change.” But he does not.

Another says, “I thought my ministry would unfold a certain way.” But it has not.

The more we see, the more we can become disillusioned.

But not these creatures.

Though full of eyes, though full of insight, though full of awareness, they are not disappointed in the One before them. They see deeply, and yet the deeper they see, the more satisfied they are. They find Someone who is altogether worthy of their gaze.

Do not miss this.

That means the answer to disillusionment is not seeing less. It is seeing Him more.

So much of our disappointment comes from fastening our hopes to people, places, dreams, outcomes, or roles that were never designed to carry the full weight of our hearts. Even good things break down when we expect from them what only God can give. But when the eyes of the soul land on Him, they finally rest on One who will never crack, never shift, never erode, never disappoint.

That is why the cherubim cry, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Why three times?

Because our God is Triune. Father, Son, and Spirit. And the holiness they proclaim is not merely moral purity, though it certainly includes that. Holiness speaks of His utter wholeness. He is not fractured. He is not compromised. He is not wearing one face in one place and another face elsewhere. He is not partly good and partly corrupt. He is whole.

I like that.

Because we live in a world where everything seems to fray at the edges. People fall apart. Institutions fall apart. even our own hearts can feel pulled in a dozen directions. But not Him. He is whole. He is sound. He is unspoiled by sin. He is untouched by hypocrisy. He is beauty without stain.

And it is that beauty that keeps these living creatures in constant worship.

They are not praising mechanically. They are not reciting lines like wind up beings with no feeling. They are overwhelmed. They behold Him, and down they go in awe. They rise, see Him again, and worship again. On and on it goes, not because heaven is repetitive in a dull way, but because the holiness of God is endlessly satisfying. Each fresh sight of Him awakens fresh wonder.

Think about that.

There is nothing in all the world as lovely as holiness. Real holiness. Not cold religion. Not spiritual posing. Not self righteous performance. True holiness.

There is something beautiful about a holy man. Something deeply attractive about a holy woman. Something steadying about a holy family. Something quietly compelling about a holy church. People may not even know how to explain what they are sensing, but they feel the difference. For a season they may chase darkness, flirt with evil, or be drawn toward what is flashy and corrupt. But when all is said and done, darkness leaves a bitter taste.

Holiness does not.

Holiness satisfies.

The holier a person becomes, the more restful they are to be around. The holier a home becomes, the more peaceful it feels. The holier a congregation becomes, the more life giving it is. Why? Because holiness is not the draining ugliness of prideful religion. It is the beauty of a life that is becoming whole in the presence of a whole God.

And the cherubim know this better than anyone.

Full of eyes, full of vision, full of understanding, they cannot take their eyes off Him. They have seen enough to know that everything else eventually fades. Only He remains ever satisfying.

Beloved, that is where our hearts must go as well. If you keep staring at people, you will grow weary. If you keep staring at circumstances, you will become discouraged. If you keep staring only at yourself, you will end up either proud or crushed. But if you look long at Him, you will find your soul steadied by the beauty of holiness.

He is the One who was, and is, and is to come.

He has never disappointed anyone who truly saw Him.

And He never will.