Our scripture this morning is Revelation 4:11.
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
Revelation is a fascinating but often confusing book, detailing the vision of Heaven, Christ’s return, and the culmination of all things under God’s rule. One chapter is not enough for complete understanding, much less one verse, but today we focus on this statement. It tells us that God was, is, and always will be the only One worthy to sit on the throne of Heaven.
Ch 4 describes the throne room of God. Those in attendance cry “You are worthy” a phrase not used in the Old Testament but part of Roman emperor veneration. Revelation shows only God is worthy of our worship, a clear contrast between the Everlasting Father and human rulers who are only temporary.
God spoke everything that exists into being. Theologians call this “creatio ex nihilio”, creation from nothing. We may think we have “created” something but we have been given raw materials and skills that are gifts from God. The New Bible Commentary tells us “God’s will is the ultimate power in the universe and that will shall be done. This is the supreme lesson of the visions of Revelation.” Without God, we and everything else are literally nothing.
Loving Lord, we are Your creation, blessed to be called Your children. Help us to see You in everyone we meet and love them as You first loved us. Amen.
