The Omniscience Of God's Will

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelation 4: 11

I’m sure that you, as I, have been pondering on the praise and worship of the twenty-four elders, bowed down before Him who sits on the throne. As we conclude this time, provided by John the Revelator, where we have received snapshots about the God whom we all worship and adore, we have two final attributes, on which we must contemplate, as fully as our faith will allow. We do so in the sure knowledge that our heavenly Father wants us, His children, to know Him and show Him, as no other. Two statements have been lifted out of the text for us.

We have already heard and bowed to our God who is the Creator of all things. Now, these two accompanying statements are held out high, before us.

All things were created by God’s will.

All things have their being by God’s will.

Listen to what the Apostle Paul says to the believers in Philippi, who have been obedient in the work of the Gospel, in his presence and in his absence, as they continue to work out their salvation, with fear and trembling. He assures them of this. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2: 13 KJV. I ask you, is this not God’s doing and their responding?

This is what Peter, a stalwart and disciple-servant of Jesus, he who was named the Rock, speaks to all who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4: 19 KJV. I ask you, is not their suffering according to God’s will?

Remember, John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is in exile. No exile is a pretty place or state in which to be. No suffering is nice and comfortable. Yet, when one suffers, as God wills, his or her very being is ordered and kept by the will of God. Our worship to God then, is not determined by our situation or condition. Whether on the mountain top, or in the valley low; whether joyful or sorrowful; whether full or empty; whether loved or scorned; whether accepted or rejected by others, the heart will honour Sovereign, Creator God, for all who He is.

Was it not God’s will and God’s working, which put John, in his exiled time, far away on the island of Patmos? Was he not in the perfect state, to receive God's revelation to him?

Was it not God, whose pleasure it was, to have His servant John, the Evangelist, witness, among other illuminating heavenly scenes, the praise and worship of those saints in glory?

Was it not the Lord’s will that he should make it all known to others, down through the ages?

Is it not the will of our Lord and God, that you and I share this specific picture of worship, as we are brought to our God, as worthy, as Lord and God and as the One to receive glory and honour and power?

Is it not to our God’s delight that we know Him as the One, Supreme Creator and ascribe His dominion and power to no other, nor share it with any other?

Is it not truth, unarguable facts, that by God’s will, everything and all things are created and all things have their being?

Holy Father in heaven, You who are pleased to reveal Your things to little children and hide them from the wise and learned, look upon us, Your babes in learning, and teach us, that we may bow before You in praise and adoration. Amen!