Chris Tomlin’s song ‘Made To Worship’ says,
‘You and I were made to worship, you and I are called to love.
You and I are forgiven and free.
When you and I embrace surrender, you and I choose to believe,
Then you and I will see who we were meant to be.’ (‘Made To Worship’, Chris Tomlin)
Worship – ascribing to God the worth to which He is due – is the focus of Revelation 5. We see people worshipping God, praising Christ because He is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals ‘because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.’ (Rev 5:9) We see innumerable angels declaring, ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!’ (Rev 5:11) We see all of creation proclaiming, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ (Rev 5:13) There may be much even in this chapter we do not understand (especially the significance of the scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals, for example), but there can be little doubt as to the centrality of worship in these scenes.
Many have commented that these words paint a picture of concentric circles, all radiating out from Christ on the throne. Michael Wilcock says that from every point on every circle ‘a radius of praise is drawn inwards to the centre; and at the centre, by His Father’s throne, is Christ.’ (Michael Wilcock, ‘The Message of Revelation’, P 69) If we can grasp that Christ is at the centre of our universe and that He alone is worthy of all praise, we will find our lives anchored in truth and our attitudes transformed.
