He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne,

as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 3:21 NASB

This verse was written to the Church of Laodicea, a lukewarm and uncommitted Church. Yes, they were Christians, but they were living for themselves. They were self-sufficient. After a severe earthquake in AD 60, Laodicea refused aid from Rome and rebuilt their city themselves (Tacitus, Annals 14.27). They were proud. They were wealthy. But for all their wealth and accomplishments, they did not measure up to God’s standards, which is reliance on Him. Jesus saw them for who they really were.

Christians are seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19). So, we too, are seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly realms; as are our prodigals who have received Christ as their Savior. They may have chosen to go their own way, thinking they are self-sufficient and not really needing God right now. They may even claim they are Christians who follow Christ. The Laodiceans didn’t see their spiritual condition. They maybe thought God was pleased with them. Whether you have a prodigal that is claiming to be following Jesus, but is deceived or you have a prodigal that has turned away from God completely for whatever reason, Jesus is saying the same thing.

…you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and

naked…I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from

your indifference. Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and

open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Revelation 3:17, 19-20 NLT

The word love here is talking about affectionate love (the Greek verb phileo). Jesus has great affection for our prodigals. He has not given up on them. Also the knocking on the door suggests a repeated, insistent knocking. Jesus may be wooing or disciplining our prodigals, but it is certain that He has not given up on them.

For us who are praying, we also need to realize we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. This can be somewhat confusing. Throne room living is for the one who has overcome the self-centered pull of this life and has opened the door to an intimate relationship with Christ. He is eating and drinking and in fellowship with Jesus. He is depending on Him rather than self. Although this is a journey, it is also a reality that we need to embrace. We can live from that place now even if we haven’t understood all its implications.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms

In Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable

riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:6-7

Brian Fennimore of Plumbline Ministries says in his book, Philosophy of Vision, “Your entire identity changed the moment you met Christ, completely. All creation looks at you based on you being seated with Him and they relate to you that way. Warfare in your life is based on your being seated with Him. The activity that goes on in your life is because you’re seated with Him. The enemy is spending a lot of time trying to make sure you never figure out your authority or your identity, because the minute you do you’ll change the whole world that you have influence on, because you’re seated with Him. God wants you to begin to think like that as you walk into every situation.”

Wow! That makes me think I have a lot more to understand about my identity…about my authority and position in Christ. It also makes me think of our prodigals and what their potential is. Everything that comes into our lives can be met with that authority and position we have seated with Christ in the heavens.

Brian goes on to ask this question: “If you knew that in every situation you got into, God was going to be with you, He was going to give you the answer, He was going to give you the victory, He was going to walk with you through anything and you knew that God was going to ultimately deliver you of everything, what would you think about the world you live in?” He then says basically this is what Scripture is telling us is true. He’s given us everything needed to overcome the world. He’s given us the position of living from the throne.