"YOU ARE WORTHY"

By Jeff Franks


“You are worthy, O Lord,To receive glory and honor and power;For You created all things,And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Rev 4:11)

As the 24 elders cast their golden crowns over a crystal sea, I worship with them joyfully. Yet one thing puzzles me. Why do we say that God should receive power, when we know that he is eternally omnipotent, and there is no power that did not come from him in the first place? Why should we want him to receive something he already has? Can’t the same can be said for glory and honor?

Truth is, God does indeed bestow glory, honor, and power on the sons of Adam. But throughout human history they have stolen, killed, and waged war in the effort to either obtain power or to keep it. Pharaoh once asked, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? (Ex. 5:2) Nebuchadnezzar challenged, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Dan. 4:30) Yet others happily acknowledged their power came from God, such as Joseph, Daniel, and King David, who in his last breath returned his earthly glory, honor and power to his heavenly maker:

“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” (2 Sam 23:3)

Those who do not will repeat the tragedies of history. Let us therefore cast our crowns at his feet and say, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created!”