Worthy!

Worthy!

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11 NIV

Context and Charge:

One of the ways we can fully understand the value of the words of today's extract is to look at the events that surrounded the utterance of these words. John had just received messages from the Lord of the church condemning and commending the seven churches in the then Asia Minor, as appropriate. These letters were written by one with full knowledge of the church; one who cannot be deceived by outward platitudes and pretence. Each church received its own personal and directed message, and then a door in heaven was opened, and John was given the rare privilege of having a foretaste of the things to come. If I will have John's experience, I must have John's submission. God wants to share his heart with me, showing me the things to come and how best to prepare, but he cannot do so with a heart that is not fully submitted to him.

In heaven, there is no power contest or elections, where people vie for positions, and every election cycle, other people come in. God is the ultimate and only power there is, and his word is law. The only person who dared to challenge God's authority in heaven lost his place and stands condemned forever. On earth, men have a choice of response: allow the rule and authority of God, as it is in heaven, reign also in their lives. We are given the power to choose; we are given the power to refuse. God does not go against the exercise of our freewill, but He makes it very clear that actions have consequences. For those who submit, heaven is open to them. For those who refuse to the end, heaven cannot be open. If heaven is not open, of course, the only other alternative destination is hell. There is no coming back from that.  

Contention and Conclusion:

Reflect on the words of today's extract. Think of how long these 4 beasts and 24 elders and the host of heaven have been doing this for, and consider that there is no end to, or timeframe for it. It is praise unlimited; the result of an acknowledgement of the power of the one being praised. The beasts and elders do not really need a reason to praise God, but seeing God at work and beholding the wonders of his creation only makes it more appealing. They know him as their God and Lord; is He mine and yours too? Do you have an alternative to this God? They are quick to ascribe to him glory, honour and power. Men would usually have these 3 - power, glory and honour - at different times in their lives. Even those born into wealth may not always have power. Yet, given time, even the most powerful or wealthy dies.

That is the baseline for submission. Nothing man has can go with him into eternity, except that which he does with God. This is the God who created all things, and wills all things to exist for his pleasure. If I am kept alive, it is because God has a plan for me. All that I hold must keep me grounded; it is a privilege, not a right, to be entrusted with bits and parts of God's creation. If I know and agree that God is sovereign, and that all I am and have belong to Him, it will reflect in my attitude and response to Him. Worship will come easy, as it will flow out of a heart that has had a personal encounter with the God who made all things, and to whom all things must answer to. Which God have I come to know and worship? This God, or the figment of my own imagination? God's time of favour is here.