Thou Art Worthy

2005-11-24

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

The twenty-four elders sing this to God in His throne room. It is a profound statement in itself because it suggests the infinite power and existence of God and the finite structure of the universe. God deserves glory because He created everything. Everything He created ought to function the way He planned them to function. And as people we ought to function as we were designed as well. The Bible states people were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-30) and from the context of this we gather that this requires authority over and caretaking of the creation. These very same caretakers do not live up to the standards, then or now. Yet God created everything - there is nothing He did not create, and it is in His power that these created things are maintained in their existence. This decree to maintain our existence despite our fallen state shows a patience of God that surpasses any patience known among humankind. Most people do not honor God at all, and even those who know Him do not honor Him in the capacity He deserves. We owe Him our entire existence, but what part of our existence do we offer or attribute to Him?