“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” – Revelation 4:11
On our first trip to the island of Kauai my husband surprised me with a helicopter tour. If you’ve ever visited Kauai, you’ll see a continuous stream of these whirlybirds as they circumvent the edge of the island. Besides the “average” beauty of this lusciously green island you’re flown over the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” After cresting the top of the mountain, you find yourself perched for just a moment as the helicopter begins its descent into an impossibly breathtaking amphitheater-shaped valley which falls into the azure, blue seas.
We were fortunate that upon reaching that crest, the skies cleared. The view laid out before me literally took my breath away. I could barely speak as the glory of God’s creation burst out in front of me in full technicolor.
God Revealed In Glory
In Romans 1 Paul exhorts Christians to not be ashamed of God and His glory. In fact, he says no one, not one person, has an excuse to not believe in God. Why? Because He has been revealed throughout all time in His creation.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
This revelation of God’s glory became a regular topic between my father and I while we sat waiting for medical appointments. He wanted proof of God’s existence. I would point outside any window and remark, “There’s your proof.” And he would scoff. I would point out the beauty of the human eye, the statistical probability of a baby coming out just about perfect millions upon millions of times, the fact we have all we need to survive and then some. And he would still scoff.
Even knowing all this, and walking in a relationship with Jesus, I still forget at times how glorious God truly is. I question His decisions. I give Him advice on how to solve problems. I idolize things other than Him. Then the Holy Spirit taps my shoulder to remind me that I’m speaking to the great I AM, not just any Joe Blow.
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Isaiah 42:8
Our Big God
When my last church went astray with unbiblical teaching, I approached one of the pastors to gain understanding about their thinking. We had a lengthy conversation about a particular topic and then he asked me a curious question. “If I asked you why you believe what you believe are you going to just say, ‘because God said so?’” he inquired. I stood there stunned for a second and then firmly responded, “Yes.” In that moment, I realized how easily even spiritual leaders can shrink God to something manageable.
Last year I read a great little book called, “Your God Is Too Small, A guide for believers and skeptics alike” by J.B. Phillips. He addresses how believers fall into traps of defining God absent the truth of His glory. We make Him into a god of the familiar and every day. For example, we’ve probably heard people (like my father) smirk at the idea of Jesus being resurrected. “There’s no such thing as bringing someone back from the dead! That’s impossible!” Yet, that is exactly what God did.
Phillips discusses 11 types of “God” we create in our minds and in our prayer life. One might think of God as a policeman, always watching and searching for the evil we do. Or as a meek and mild Jesus who, according to some Super Bowl commercials, just wants to be loved and love in return. Others pray as though God never sees what we need – a hands-off god. While others worry He is a micromanager.
But all those are not the real God. The God of majesty and glory. Of power and might. The God of Revelation who commands the winds and seas. Who sends His angels to fight heavenly battles. The God of Daniel 7 whose throne is ablaze with flames with a river of fire come out before Him. The God who has 1,000s upon 1,000s attending Him in the heavens. That God can do the impossible.
Friend, is your god too small? Have you forgotten He is the God of sunrises and sunsets? He has intricately woven every animal, human and plant for His purposes. He is beyond time and our full understanding. And yet, He has invited us to be heirs to this glory through His Son, Jesus. What a glorious gift!
“We have seen that the Son of God created the world for this very end, to communicate Himself in an image of His own excellency. … When we behold the light and brightness of the sun, the golden edges of an evening cloud, or the beauteous (rain)bow, we behold the adumbrations of His glory and goodness; and in the blue sky, of his mildness and gentleness.” Jonathan Edwards
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