As I sit and look out across the lake this morning, I’m reminded of what an awesome great God we have. The song “How Great Thou Art” is one of my favorites. The first and second verses talk about His creation, and I’m reminded of Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” God was and is the creator of everything. He had no beginning; He always has been and always will be. We, as adults, think we are so smart. Many adults have a hard time coming to grips with the facts of creation. However, yesterday, I was reminded of simple faith when I heard a 3-year-old quote from Genesis 1:1. With the acceptance of simple faith, he could look out over the lake and say, “God made this!”
In Colossians 1:16-17, we see Jesus, God in the flesh, as the person of the Trinity that created all things. John also makes that clear in John 1:1-3. Jesus is the Word, the very essence of truth, and the fleshly embodiment of God.
Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
God is great in His holiness. Nothing ever has or ever will defile Him. We live in a world where sin contaminates everyone. Why? Because in Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve decided to do as they wished and disobeyed the great God that created them. Because God is holy, he no longer could walk with them daily in the garden. Sin separated the creator from the creation. We are instructed to be holy as He is holy. While we will never achieve perfect holiness here on this earth, our goal is to be as holy as we can be. We will not reach sinless perfection here, but we can sin less. Daily, we are to seek to walk closer to God than we were the day before. We should never make excuses for ourselves and pass our sins off as no big deal. Too many times, I’ve heard the phrase “nobody’s perfect” used as an excuse for personal sin.
Leviticus 20:7 “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.”
I Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
God is great in His compassion and love. When man sinned, God had every right to doom mankind to hell and make no provision for his redemption. However, because of God’s love and compassion, he chose to make a way possible to redeem those who would repent and accept the payment for their sins. This payment was made by God himself by giving His only son, Jesus, to die in our place. God’s compassion and love are attributes so great we can’t imagine the magnitude of them. Verse three of the hymn “How Great Thou Art” says it so well. “That on the cross, my burdens gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God is great in His provision for us. Not only did God provide for our salvation. He provides for all our needs while here on this earth. Those who doubt his provision are desiring their wants to be met, or they are in a mess because of their own doing. Yet, even in our messes, He will provide a way out. We may not have all we desire, but we will have all we need. While I am extremely grateful for all God has provided for me here on earth, I am most grateful for the provision of eternity. When Jesus left to go back to Heaven after His resurrection, He told the disciples He was going to prepare a place for them. All those who have trusted Him as their personal Savior will have a home in Heaven when they die or when He returns to end this world as we know it. With this thought in mind, it is no wonder to me that the songwriter enters the chorus with, “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great thou art!” The feeling is so magnanimous he repeats that exact phrase.
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
John 14:2-3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
My God is great in creation, holiness, love, compassion, and provision. The greatness of my God cannot be fully expressed in words. No single thing on earth can display His greatness. There is absolutely nothing that can equal or surpass the greatness of my God. I imagine that when I’ve been in Heaven for 10,000 years, I’ll still be discovering and overwhelmed by the greatness of my God. I am so thankful I have a great God. I sing with the psalmist “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” Psalm 48:1 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised”
