After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Mark 16:19

They’re always talking about Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.

What about the left?

The idea of Jesus sitting at God’s right hand is just imagery, of course. We’re not talking about a literal throne here. The idea is that Jesus is God’s go-to guy. It’s the power seat. It’s the perfect place where you want your messiah to sit.

But what about the left hand seat? Is it available? I mean, if nobody’s sitting there, could I? I’m not trying to insinuate that I somehow deserve a position of honor. It’s just that, if nobody’s sitting there, the left hand of God sounds fine to me.

Seriously, though. Who does sit at God’s left? Well, one ancient source posited that maybe the angel Gabriel sat there. Somebody else said it only makes sense that the Holy Spirit sat there, kind of a 3-in-one trinitarian thing. Other places suggest that nobody is sitting there, to which I politely raise my hand and say, “ooh, ooh, can I?”

Think about it. The left hand would get that awesome God’s eye view of the world. That would be nice. I could see what God sees. Really get a big picture panorama of life, the universe, and everything. If I had any questions, then God would be right there, ready to answer.

If I could sit at the left hand of God, I wouldn’t have the pressure put on me that Jesus must feel sometimes, on that right side. I’d just kind of be along for the ride. I could be the plucky sidekick, making an occasional snarky observation to lighten things up during a tense moment.

Most of all, I’d be safe. I’d be right next to God, the supreme protector. I’d be near Jesus, too. I would have, in my opinion, the best seat in the house. So, if it’s available, could I sit there? Or maybe…

Maybe this ancient military image doesn’t really describe the seating situation in the Kingdom when it comes to you and me.

When I think about it, I picture you and I seated in a circle around our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We’re all equally close to the Source of Love, equally protected. We all have a view inward toward Love, and we’re also called to turn outward, projecting that Love into the world. And, strangely enough, God is out there, too. Beckoning us to make room, that there’s always an empty seat for somebody else. That’s the image that comes to my mind, anyway.

The truth is, I don’t really know the seating chart in heaven. But I have to believe that there’s room for all of us by God’s side. Right side, left side, it doesn’t really matter.

Just rest assured…

There’s a seat reserved for you.