In Revelation's chapter four, John was caught up to the throne of God. He saw roundabout the throne four and twenty elders. He saw the host of heaven and beheld lightnings and thunderings and voices coming out of the throne. He saw the four and twenty elders casting their crowns before the throne saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Re. 4:11). What an amazing sight to behold! No doubt this will be the scene that all of us shall experience when the church is caught up at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     But what took place in this experience, which reveals a great truth to us, is the fact that John heard the elders declare that "ALL" things are and were created for God's pleasure. In other words, everything that took place in Genesis chapter one had one, divine eternal purpose - accomplishing the will of God! This word "pleasure" is the Greek word THELEMA (thay-lee-ma), which has to do with God's will. We find this is several key verses in the New Testament. One in particular is Matthew chapter six verse ten, which is part of the Lord's Prayer. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will (THELEMA) be done on earth as it is in heaven."   Another reference is John chapter four. "My meat is to do the will (THELEMA) of him that sent me and to finish his work" (John 4:34). If all we had were these three verses it would be enough to reveal the heart of our Father God. We were created for purpose, and that purpose is to please him by doing his will.

"If angels could ascend and descend between heaven and earth because they seek to do God's pleasure as servants, how much more liberty should there be for us to facilitate the will of heaven on earth when we seek to do his pleasure as sons."

     There is another word used in the New Testament for "pleasure." It is the Greek word EUDOKIA (you-da-key-a). It also has to do with God's will, but it has a much different connotation to it. EUDOKIA deals with the benevolent will of God whereas THELEMA applies to the judicial will of God. If you think about it in terms of the heart of a father, you know that there are things that a father wills for his children that are based upon sound judgment. There are things he knows are best for his children, and so he endeavors to instill that into them. But then there is another side to it. There is this deep desire and affection that motivates a father toward things he wants for his sons or daughters. God's will operates the same way! There is a side of his will that is exacting, uncompromising, that we seek to do that is based upon the law of cause and effect. We know the consequences if we fail to do what is required. But then there is this other side that is more engaging, fulfilling, that we seek to do because we love him and want to please him.

     When God began to talk to me this past year about making his will my highest and most important quest in life, he showed me that there is a liberty we have in Christ that provides much more than just the liberation from sin or the demands of ceremonial or judicial law. It is a liberty to move with God and to experience the joy of doing what pleases him. The whole idea of praying for God's will to be done on the earth as it is in heaven, is so that in our obedience we find the true heart of our Father. You talk about seeing heaven and earth move in a powerful way! God will go to great lengths to do things for us when we purpose to do what is pleasing in his sight!

     So in this New Year, may you make doing God's will your foremost priority, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because love would do no less than engage in what pleases him most!