In Revelation 4:11 we read, "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." This verse records the praise of the 24 elders as they gathered around the throne of God. They declare that God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. The last part of the verse explains why. The reasons given are: (1) He is the creator of all things, the first cause if you will (see Law of Cause and Effect), since He has always existed; (2) For His pleasure they exist and were created. In other words, He created and preserves all things, and they are dependent upon the will and power of God. As such, it is critical for us to understand what the purpose and pleasure of God is for us.
"For thy pleasure they are and were created." This means that we owe our existence (to include being and continuation) to God for His pleasure and purpose for us. Since we are His creation, He can deal with us as He pleases for His glory and wishes. The only reason the universe exists is because it was the will of God. Proverbs 16:4 tells us that the LORD hath made all things for himself. This concept is further expanded upon in Colossians 1:16-17 where Paul tells us, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Please note in verse 17 it tells us that He is before all things (the cause of everything that exists) and by Him all things consist (He holds it together). This verse emphasizes all things owe its existence to His will. The world and the universe we observe is not eternal; it is not self-existent; and it was formed from nothing.
So, what is our purpose here, and what does God require of us while here? Mankind has rebelled against the creator and attempts to replace God with His creation (man). Paul in Romans 1:25 states, "Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." We have made ourselves as God when we determine what is good and what is evil. This is nothing new since Isaiah dealt with this situation in Isaiah 5:20 declaring, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Man's current position is the same as the Pharaoh of the Exodus who was considered as a god. When God requested Pharaoh to let his people go, Pharaoh responded in Exodus 5:2 declaring, "...Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice..." (sound familiar?) After the power of God was demonstrated through the ten plagues, Pharaoh let the people go but changed his mind and pursued his slaves to bring them back and ended up facing the ultimate reality of God with his death and the destruction of his army in the Red Sea. In the end, we, like Pharaoh, will face and acknowledge the reality of God and our serving at His pleasure, when upon our death, we come face to face with that reality and have learned we have fooled ourselves concerning our existence.
In conclusion, heed the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13 when he wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Jesus said in Luke 17:10 that when we have done all those things which are commanded us, we are unprofitable servants since we have done that which was our duty to do. In short, serving at His pleasure.
Charles Royal, Decatur AL
