When John describes God as a Sardius stone—or in other
versions a red carnelian—he is speaking of the Lord’s character; His
personality, emotions, and nature. John’s description is in mere human
words; unable to rightly portray the glory of what he was overwhelmed
by. However, John chose objects and words that the rest of us might
have some kind of picture of what he saw. It gives us a tangible,
visible example for our minds to comprehend. Revelation 4:1–3 gives us
language and a portrait of God; King of Heaven and Earth arrayed in
pure glory and enflamed with passion forever burning into eternity.
The
Sardius stone is a beautiful ruby red gem, it is as brilliant as a
glowing fire and the color is as likened to blood. Perhaps in that
description alone we can see why John used it to illustrate God and His
character, and the radiance of His emotions towards us. This stone,
this earthly rock holds revelation of the very character of God, both
in appearance and in meaning. He has not left us in the dark wandering
around for some explanation of who the God we serve is and what
He's like. Yet, He also has made it so that we must search Him out. “It
is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to
search out the matter” (Proverbs 25:2). There is a call to the
voluntary lovers of God to play an eternal game of Hide and Seek. He
will array Himself in mystery and we have to seek Him; we will find Him and for eternity be captivated, always seeking and always finding.
Deuteronomy
4:24 says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
The Sardius description is a testament to the pure jealousy of God over
us, His all consuming fire of love towards those who receive. Can you
imagine what that looks like? It isn’t just an earthly lover’s fiery
obsession—that quickly fades with the highs and lows of human
emotion—it is God. He is love. He is impassioned. He is
jealous. As we search out the very nature of God we will be transformed
by the revelation of who He is and the depths of love He has for us.
“Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm For love
is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are
flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD” (Song of Solomon 8:6).
The
Sardius is a divine way of explaining God’s character. Its color
reveals different aspects, and its shine makes known the beauty behind
each one. For example, we were born into sin and were married to death
from the beginning. No marriage bond can be broken except through
death. Jesus came and died so sin’s shackles that held us would
be forever broken. In return, He betrothed us to Himself. This Sardius
like splendor gives us a tangible revelation of God’s jealous, all
consuming fire of love and the beauty of what was accomplished
at the cross. If we give ourselves to revelation like this it will
begin to alter our view of God and His will for us. Instead of the
passive faith, and apathetic Christianity so prevalent in this age, we
will feel ourselves becoming overwhelmed with passion for His will. “…Zeal for Your house has consumed me…” (Psalms 69:9).
His
sardius-like splendor gives us a peek into the revelation of His
immense passion. The Sardius speaks of the beauty of God, but not on
the terms of radiance alone, but beauty in the terms of His ardent
zeal. This God of incomparable beauty feels deeply, we can
never begin to take that for granted, we must feel the weight of that.
Typically the most beautiful people are the ones whose love is shallow
and superficial. Lucifer was the most beautiful of all angelic beings,
and he was completely consumed with himself. People caught up in their
own loveliness rarely love others deeply, especially those who are
weak, broken and defiled. Yet, the God who will forever define splendor
takes that kind of paradigm and flips it upside down. For, we are all
those things in whole; weak, broken and defiled. The God of sardius is
deeply engaged, the most beautiful one of all is enthralled
with us. There is no worry that in His beauty He will be so preoccupied
that He will have no room in His heart to connect deeply with us. Again
this shows the two different facets of the stone; the Sardius’ depth of
red displays the fervency of God’s passion towards us and it shines
with beauty of what that truly means; He is in love with us. The
radiant God of jasper is the passionate God of sardius.
The
throne room in Heaven gives such a detailed and easy to understand
picture of the Father in all His glory. It gives us aspects of His
appearance and His emotions. But in discovering God, the Father we find
the Son as well. Try paralleling the Father’s throne room glory to the
Man Jesus. For example, the Father is radiating like a diamond, clear
as refreshing water, and yet he glows with that sardius red of pure
abandon and love. Jesus is God made man and in Him we find the Father
for they are one. Jesus as he hung on the cross was pierced in the
side, out poured a flood of water and blood … jasper and sardius
meeting once again and washing the world in the glory of the Father’s
plan. He is in love with us. Say that yourself, "He is in love with
me!" Everything he does reflects that depth of passion.
Love
is the premiere theme of God’s nature and His character. Whether it is
His good will, His kindness, justice or mercy it all boils down to the
root of why He is like that. He is enamored with His creation, “…Yes,
I have loved you with an everlasting love; with loving-kindness I have
drawn you…” (Jeremiah 31:3). Perhaps this sardius description serves as
a window into what the very personality of God looks like in the
literal sense. He is utterly alight with the fires of love churning and
blazing passionately. He is aglow with piercing, penetrating jealousy
and redemptive beauty that is poured out to refine us.
