In the book The Final Quest, Rick Joyner writes of seeing Christians in the highest ranks of heaven sitting on thrones that were all a part of Jesus’ throne. Rick Joyner learnt in that heavenly experience that all those saints qualified to sit on Jesus’ throne by doing one thing: "They did not deviate from their devotion to the first and greatest commandment — loving the Lord. In this way, their service was done unto Him, not to men."

During the coming Millennium, there are Christians who will sit on thrones to reign with Jesus (Revelation 20:4). We can be among them.

You could be asking yourself, "How do we qualify for such great honor?" Jesus said, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:21). That means we qualify to sit on Jesus’ throne to reign with Him by overcoming.

But you ask, "What is it that we have to overcome?" We need to overcome the love for the world by keeping the first and greatest commandment - loving God with everything in us. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).

For we Christians, our number one calling is to love the Lord with all our heart. When we do that, whatever we do will be for the glory of His name. However, if our top most devotion of loving God is substituted for other things, yes, although we shall dwell with Him forever, we shall have failed the King of kings. For this reason, we shall not sit with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21), but rather just be among the multitude standing before His throne (Revelation 7:9); and there is a whole world of difference between the two. Sadly, according to Revelation 7:9, as compared to those "sitting on the throne", many more Christians will just be "before the throne".

I pray that you and I will be part of the overcomers, those who will not deviate from their devotion to the first and greatest commandment of loving the Lord. As we said last week, we love God by obeying His words and commands. Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word . . . He who does not love Me does not keep My words" (John 14:23-24).

God bless you.