Is Anyone Worthy?

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. Revelation 5:2-4

-God, I am really, truly sorry for my sins. Please forgive me.

-You want forgiveness?

-Yes, Lord, absolutely! Please! Please forgive me. I want to be right with You more than anything!

-If you want to be forgiven, someone else is going to have to pay the price for your sins. And you know the wages of sin is death. If you want forgiveness, someone is going to have to die in your place.

(Taken aback, you pause.)

–Ok, Lord. It’s a terrible thing to ask, I know, but my parents love me. They love me enough that I believe they would give their lives to save me.

-Yes, they would. They do love you that much. But they can’t. They have sin of their own. Who would pay the penalty for them?

(thinking hard) -Oh, right. Well I don’t know if anyone else loves me enough to do that for me. For a good man someone might dare to die, but I’m not special or important.

-Even if someone else were willing, everyone else has their own sin. So, there’s no sacrifice that can be made that’s enough to pay the debt. I’m afraid there’s really nothing that can be done.

(swallowing hard, fighting back tears) -Ok, Lord. I understand.

You see, that’s the way the conversation should have gone.

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

-God, You mean You’re going to come down here and be the sacrifice Yourself??

-Yes.

-But God! How is that even possible?!

-My Spirit will come upon a human woman and through her, the Eternal Word will be born into the physical world in human flesh. He will be the Son of Man and the Son of God. He will be able to live a perfect life and pay your debt.

-Wait a second, God. Hold on. How exactly is Your Son going to pay this debt? Surely You don’t mean….

-Yes, He will have to die. His body will be offered as a sacrifice on a cross. But three days later He will rise from the dead, becoming the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

-Wait. Did you say… a cross?! They say that anyone who hangs on a tree is cursed! What foolishness! No one’s going to want a savior like that!

-Indeed, the message of the cross IS foolishness to those who are perishing. Christ crucified is to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is My power and My wisdom.

-Well, I don’t know, Lord. Isn’t there any other way besides Your Son… what is His name again?

-Jesus.

-Isn’t there any other way besides this Jesus of Yours?

-No. There is no salvation in any other. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which you can be saved. This is my offer. If you desire, come. Take the water of life freely.

And I looked, and behold…[there] stood a Lamb as though it had been slain.

Now when He had taken the scroll, [they] fell down before the Lamb. And they sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Dear God, I thank you that Christ Jesus made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Let this mind be in me also- that of a humble, obedient servant, even to the point of death. In His name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins

Scripture references:
Revelation 5:2b-4; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:7; Revelation 5:5; John 3:16; Hebrews 5:9; Galatians 3:13; I Corinthians 1:18, 23-34; Acts 4:12; Revelation 22:17; Revelation 5:6,8-9,11-12; Philippians 2:5-8