Worship is the Ultimate Goal

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created.” – Revelation 4:11

Revelation 4 gives us a glimpse into heaven and shows us what stands at the center of all creation: the eternal worship of God. By God’s grace, John saw the throne of God surrounded by creatures and elders who continually proclaimed, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8). The elders fell before the throne, cast their crowns before Him, and declared, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God” (Rev. 4:11). Worship is not simply something we do on Sunday morning. Worship is the purpose for which we were created. God is worthy of the praise of every person, every nation, and every corner of His creation.

This is why missions exist: because worship doesn’t. There are billions of people who do not yet know Christ and therefore do not worship the God who made them. Missions are God’s gracious means of gathering worshipers from every nation and bringing them into the praise that Revelation shows us around His throne. We go, send, pray, and give because God is worthy. The goal is not simply more churches, more converts, or even more Christians. The ultimate goal is more worship—until the vision of Revelation 7:9 becomes reality, when people from every nation, tribe, people, and language stand before the throne and worship the Lamb. Our missionary calling begins with God’s glory and ends with God’s glory.

Suggested Scripture Readings: 

• Psalm 96:1–10 
• Isaiah 6:1–8

Questions for Reflection: 

1. Do I think of worship as the ultimate purpose of my life, or primarily as something I do during a worship service?
2. How should God’s worthiness motivate me to pray, give, serve, and speak about Christ to those who do not yet know Him?