Majestic

Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. . . . . When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:1-4 NIV)

I truly enjoy the outdoors.  Kayaking the tree lined perimeter of a lake in the early morning fog, cooking on an open fire and fishing with my kids bring me great joy.  I especially love experiencing the mountains.  I have sat on a mountaintop, gazing upon the sweeping vistas set before me, overpowered by a view that was too much for me to take in. I have been trapped in a sudden lightning storm with no protection as waves of panic swept over my friends and me.  I have witnessed the untarnished glow of multitude stars spread out in a midnight blue sky like spilt milk. 

Creation is amazing.  God is Majestic.

Our God is the creator of all of this and so much more. Isaiah's words ring true when he says, "He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in......Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."  God's invisible qualities and divine nature cry out from creation to all men everywhere, that He is creator. That He is mighty. That His name is holy and set apart; majestic.

In the midst of His wonder and glory, it is truly amazing that God even takes a moment to think of us.  He has given us the work of our hands and has made us rulers over the world He created.  If that were the extent of His attention, it would be enough.  But, there is more. 

Even with God's blessings all men everywhere rebelled and rejected Him.  Therefore, death darkened our world, capturing all men in its icy grip, delivering them to judgement and eternal separation from God. Punishment is demanded of any and all who rebel against the all powerful, holy God of the universe. 

But God still loves us.  Like a loving father, he did not want anyone to die, but to experience life with Him to the fullest forever.  His righteousness, however, demanded justice for man's rebellion, so He sent His son to take the penalty for us.  God the Son took on human flesh, coming to earth as a helpless child, living as a youth in anonymity and poverty.  He lived in perfect submission and obedience to God, which ended in His humiliating, tortuous death on a cross, while being mocked by His own people. 

In Christ's death the punishment of sin is taken care of for all who believe in Him.  God raised Him from the dead on the third day.  He ascended into heaven on the clouds in front of many witnesses.  Today He sits at the right hand of God the Father.  He is now our mediator, declaring all who believe in him to be righteous.  Are you one of his own?

The next time you gaze up at the night sky and sit in stunned amazement at the majesty of it all, think for a moment how insignificant you are in comparison to creation.  Then realize in great humility the lengths that God went to save you and soak it in. 

Majestic