Perspective is critical, especially when it aligns with reality.
Revelation 4:11 describes the perspective of heaven. As Jesus is surrounded by four living creatures that represent all creation, constantly giving “glory, honor, and thanks to Him,” the twenty-four elders who surround the throne of God “fall down before Him.”
It’s not clear as to whether they “fall down” as an act of their will or they “fall down” because, in His presence, they simply can’t keep standing up.
Overwhelmed by the worship of all creation, these elders, who represent the people of God across all time, “lay their crowns before the throne” of Jesus and speak these words:
“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
This is the ultimate perspective or paradigm shift.
It reminds us that life isn’t about me, and it’s not about you. It’s always and forever about JESUS.
It’s all about JESUS.
It’s only about JESUS.
It’s always about JESUS!
Revelation 4:11 reveals at least five realities that can shift our perspective.
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Jesus is WORTHY.
The English word “worship” comes from an old English word, “woerthship” or “worthship” which meant “to assign worth or value to something” or “to put a price tag on it”
One author put it this way. When you worship you are basically saying, “This one is WORTH MORE.” And you can’t really say, “This one is worth more,” without at least implying, “Something else is worth less.”
Tim Keller once said: “Worship is placing value —ultimate value — on someone or something in a way that energizes and engages everything about you.”
When it comes to all the competing priorities and prerogatives vying for our attention, they all fall under this ultimate truth: JESUS IS WORTH MORE.
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Jesus is worthy to receive GLORY.
Glory carries the idea of “heaviness, weight, gravity or significance in the eyes of others.”
In other words, all of our apparent significance and success when it comes to degrees, accomplishments, awards, trophies, or titles fade in comparison to who Jesus is and what He has done.
This is why the elders lay their crowns before Jesus’ throne. The word “crowns” is the Greek word stephanos and refers to the victor’s crown that was placed upon the winner of a battle or contest.
Eternity gives these elders an incredible perspective on what really matters. All titles, awards, trophies, accolades, and championships only matter and have meaning if and when they are surrendered at the feet of JESUS.
This is what caused the writer of Psalm 115 to say, “Not to us, not to us, but to Your name be the GLORY…” (Psalm 115:1).
Jack Hayford once wrote:
“The weight of God's GLORY is the only worth that can bring true self-worth. The weight of God's GLORY is the only wealth that can bring true abundance. The weight of God's GLORY is the only force that can tip the scales and turn the tide of human circumstance from emptiness to fulfillment.”
Jesus gets the GLORY!
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Jesus is worthy of HONOR.
The word “honor” refers to “value or price.”
It’s the recognition and reverence we bring when we admit that nothing in our lives is as valuable, precious, and priceless as JESUS.
One day, we will stand before the throne of God and be able to sing these lyrics as never before:
“Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus.”
—Fernando Ortega
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Jesus is worthy of POWER.
When we say that Jesus is worthy of power, that doesn’t mean that the omnipotent and all-powerful God can become stronger. He’s omnipotent, after all, which by its very definition means “all-powerful.”
When we say Jesus is worthy of power, or in the words of the Lord’s prayer, “Yours is the power,” we’re admitting that we are limited and finite, but JESUS is unlimited and infinite.
Some circumstances, situations, and challenges we face in life will be bigger than us. But we will never encounter a circumstance, obstacle, struggle, or obstacle that is BIGGER, GREATER, or STRONGER than our GOD.
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Jesus CREATED ALL THINGS, including me and YOU!
“…for you created ALL THINGS, and by your will they were created and have their being.” —Revelation 4:11
“All things” include everything we can see and even things we can’t see! It includes you and me!
We were intentionally designed and created by God and placed on this planet for a purpose.
Paul described it like this in Ephesians 2:10.
“For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”
—Ephesians 2:10 NET
This PERSPECTIVE changes everything!
Jesus is WORTHY!
Worthy of GLORY.
Worthy of HONOR.
Worthy of POWER.
He CREATED it all!
It’s all about JESUS.
It’s only about JESUS.
It’s always about JESUS!
If you want to explore the subject of WORSHIP in greater detail, check out the ISOW Bible College course titled “Why We Worship“ (In English Only) by Lindell Cooley. It contains seven inspiring lessons that will grow your heart for Jesus and help to re-align your perspective. You can view the course by clicking on this link.
To view courses in Spanish, click here.