Revelation 4:11--Created For His Pleasure
A couple of
months ago, it was raining so heavily when I arrived home from work,
that I didn’t even think about making a run for the house. Nothing
urgent awaited me inside, so getting soaked just wasn’t worth
getting out of the car. Instead, I decided the time I spent in the
car waiting for the rain to slack off would be a good opportunity to
spend time with the Lord and meditate on Him.
Looking around
at the trees and shrubbery, and watching the flashes of lightening
in the sky, I acknowledged Him as the creator of all things, and I
thanked Him for His creations. Those thoughts brought Revelation
4:11 to mind: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created.”
Since that
scripture says that He created everything for His pleasure, it seems
reasonable, then, that He would have incorporated within each one of
His creations a specific characteristic, that when put to use, would
give Him pleasure. Each would have a purpose which they would
instinctively carry out to please Him. Surely if He created them,
they had to have some purpose. And even though they were created
soulless, and weren’t given the reasoning ability as man was given,
they carry out His purpose naturally, just by their existence.
As I looked
around my yard and neighborhood, I began to think about the possible
purpose(s) of His creations. Though not exhaustive, here’s where my
thinking took me, and I recommend this as a devotional exercise for
meditating and adding your own thoughts to the list.
Household Pets
provide unconditional love and pleasure to man, as well as
companionship and comfort. Some even have the intelligence and
ability to assist the handicapped.
Non-Household
Animals
supply food and clothing materials. They have beauty in their
design, color palette, and in their grace of movement. They assist
man with physical labor and chores, such as farming. Above all,
they display God’s glory!
Insects
pollinate flowers, supply food (i.e. honey), and give us beauty
(i.e. butterfly).
Trees/Plants
give us beauty and pleasure through their shade, fruits, nuts,
flowers, vegetables and spices. Some provide us fabric and
construction materials. The leaves help filter the air we breathe,
and many have medicinal and healing value, as well as elements to
make dyes.
The Earth
itself develops metals, minerals, fuel, nutrients for plant life
and provides a home to numerous ground animals and insects.
Birds
display beauty, not only in the physical sense, but in the musical
sounds and songs they sing. They scatter seed and help maintain the
balance of insects.
Water,
including oceans, lakes and rivers, sustains life for man and is a
home for fish and crustaceans. Water also provides food sources and
recreational activities for man.
Rain/Snow
waters trees and vegetation. It cleans the air of pollen and
impurities.
Lightening/Thunder
displays God’s power and His glory!
Though created for God’s pleasure, notice carefully how these
creations give us pleasure, as well. As I wrote in my Commentary
for Genesis 1:1, God could have created a black and white world,
designed only one type flower of pink, made all animals brown, all
plants the same green, and all bodies of water the same blue or
green. But, He didn’t. The earth and all its inhabitants are rich
in colors, sights and sounds, and only man was created with the
capacity to enjoy them all. His love for us gives us riches beyond
measure.
As a child, I would typically use one green crayon to draw or color
the trees, grass or plants in my pictures. Today, as I observe the
trees around me, it seems that the leaves of each tree variety
display a different hue or shade of green. As I stand outside in
the early morning to throw out bread crumbs for the neighborhood
birds and squirrels, I am in awe of the myriad bird songs that I
hear coming from every direction. Each bird variety has a distinct
chirp, shrill or whistle, yet they blend together like an orchestra
of different instruments in a beautiful composition.
What if the bellows of the whale beneath the water, or the howl of
the coyote and wolf in the wilderness, or the gobble of the turkey
and coo of the dove in the field, or the roar of the lion and tiger
in the plains of Africa are all about giving praise to their
Creator? What if the screeching noise made by the crickets and
cicadas are really their way of “making a joyful noise”? What if
the design of the spider’s web is just as much about displaying
God’s glory as it is to catch an insect? What if the rustle of the
leaves is just as much about extolling praise as it is in response
to the wind blowing? What if the turning of the sunflower towards
the sun is really its way to keep facing its Maker? Experts have
given us “scientific” explanations for the sounds and activities of
animals, birds, insects and plant life, but couldn’t there be more
to it than man’s scientific reasoning? What if every sound and
activity of every animal, bird, insect or tree is really the
fulfillment of the purpose for which they were created? That by
doing what they do naturally and without thought brings pleasure to
the One Who created them?
We’re told in Philippians 2:10 that at some future point every
creation on, above and under the earth will bow down at just the
mention of the name of Jesus. Revelation 5:13 tells us at
least one phrase they will say, "Blessing, and honor, and glory,
and power be unto him that sittteth upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb forever and ever." In Isaiah 55::12 we’re told that one
day the mountains and hills will burst into song before Him, and
trees of the field will clap their hands. Perhaps what all of
creation is doing right now is just a dress rehearsal for that day
to come. Glory! Hallelujah! But, meanwhile, they are fulfilling
their purpose, which in turn, gives pleasure to the One who created
them.
That brings us to God’s final creations: Man and Woman. We are no
different from the wolf, the lion, the dove, the cricket, the
spider, the leaf or the sunflower in that we were created for God’s
pleasure. But unlike His other creations, we were given free will.
We can choose to seek self-gratifying pleasure, or we can choose to
live our lives pleasing Him. Unlike His other creations, we don’t
fulfill our purpose naturally or without thought. We have to choose
consciously and deliberately to give pleasure through our words and
actions to the One who created us. And, unlike His other creations,
the fulfillment of our purpose here on earth will reap heavenly
rewards, treasures in heaven. No other creation has been given that
promise. Revelation 4:11 tells us that Jesus is worthy to receive
glory, honor and power. No other creation can make that claim,
either.
As you wrap up this commentary, let me ask you these questions, “Is
your life giving the Lord glory and honor? Are you fulfilling the
purpose for which God created you? Is your life, which was granted
to you by the King of kings and Lord of lords, giving Him
pleasure?” If not, why not?
Other Verses To
Look Up
Psalm 148
Isaiah 43:20; 44:23; 55:9-13
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