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Who Is Worthy?

Can anyone bring order to our chaotic world? Can anyone secure justice for the oppressed? Can anyone make an end to the wars and rumors of wars? Can anyone establish a truly righteous economic and political system? Can anyone help humanity restore the peace and prosperity that we lost when we were evicted from Eden? Can anyone right the wrongs? There is one. 

At issue is not just the fact that there is no one else able to bring about the change we need in our world. Rather, the issue is that there is no one else worthy. God empowers many people to do many things. He uses even unrighteous rulers who do not know him to bring about his righteous purposes. But the total restoration of creation and humanity can only be brought about by one who is worthy of the task. Presidents, prime ministers, and royals may manage the current world order, but only the holy Son of God is fit for lordship over the world that is to come. 

Jesus Christ is the worthy one. John, the writer of Revelation, saw him as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain,” (Rev. 5:6). No one had been able to approach the throne of God and to open the ancient scroll and break its seals to initiate God’s final judgements upon heaven and earth. But then came the Lamb. In all the universe, he was the only one worthy to bring the current world order to a close and to bring about a new heaven and earth. He was worthy because he was slain. He experienced death so that the world could be delivered from death into life with him. In fact, the citizenship of God’s new world order would be those whom Christ’s sacrifice redeemed: “With your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth,” (vv. 9-10). 

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” cried angels and saints too numerous to count (v. 12). John heard their worship and saw them bow reverently before the Father and the Son. Family, it’s our turn to bow. Only Jesus is worthy of “power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise,” (v. 12). May we bow before him like the angels and saints bow in heaven. May we surrender our lives to his lordship. May we recognize that only Christ is able to save and worthy to be Savior. 

Never forget that the current order of things will pass away. No matter how bad things are or how difficult they become in the cultural, political, and economic climate of our world, be reminded that Jesus reigns. In the end, all things will be made new, and the worthy One will have his way. 

Listen to the song wherever you find music!