INTRO
Ya know, sometimes it’s good for us to get out of our environment to see the glory of God, and to be even more thankful for all he’s done and given, for that which he is doing now, and forevermore will do for all of creation.
I have to say, going on vacation last weekend to Seattle refreshed my soul. It gave me the opportunity to experience God’s glory in new ways. The drive out, and home, was so beautiful. There was hardly a cloud in the sky the entire weekend — for the exception of a few wispy ones here-or-there.
As we drove west Friday, I marveled at the terrain. I was amazed at the seemingly endless, farm fields near Moses Lake, and the high desert from there on — one my daughter described as being like the Badlands of North and South Dakota. At First, at least to me, that area seemed dry, desolate, and somewhat ugly. However, the more I gazed out my window, I thought about the beauty of God’s creation in its vast landscape.
If that we’re enough, my wife pointed out the window as we climbed up and then down into the Columbia basin. She didn’t need to say anything, the landscape said it all. Then, my daugter spoke beautifully again, saying, “It’s like the Grand Canyon, Mom and Dad.” It’s like what she was saying was, “Look how God carved out the rock with this great and huge river.”
I continued to marvel as we rolled further west and into Cascades. I experienced the awe of God’s majesty and glory as we drove through Snoqualmie Pass — my spirit stirred with similar feeling, just like the first weekend we drove to Idaho from Minnesota. The towering rocks and the vast, green forests, that went on-and-one for as far as the eye could see, testify to the Glory of God. Then two hours later, we descended into Seattle, and saw before us the beginning of the Pacific Ocean by glimpsing the Puget Sound. The sight of the Sound transported my mind to twenty years ago when I sailed the oceans and looked out onto and endless horizon of blue water and amazing skies.
The whole weekend — all that we did, took in, and experienced — testified to God’s glory, and why I am so thankful to be called a child of God through his only Son, Jesus Christ. This morning, it is my hope and prayer that we transport our minds and hearts to a place of thankfulness, because God has sought us out and is making us into the gloriousness of Jesus Christ. So, with that, turn with me please in your bibles to Psalm 105:1–6. If you don’t have your bible with you, feel free to open the pew bible to p. 942.
THANKFULNESS AND PRAISE
You know, truly, this Psalm has a cyclical way about it. Way could start at the beginning or the end, or anywhere in the middle, and make our way back around again; and that’s kind of what I want to do this morning. Let’s start out by reading VV1-4. READ PSALM 105:1–4.
My earlier story is truly one of thanksgiving and praise to our God and creator. I am so thankful for the beautiful place he’s given us live and enjoy. No matter if we’re here in the rolling, Bitterroot mountains we call home, or in the prairie lands of the Midwest, in Appalachia, near the oceans, or anywhere in between, I think it’s so easy to marvel at the beauty of our planet, and how God created all this for our good pleasure.
I have to be honest though, I am often perplexed when I here folks say that our planet is just an insignificant accident of universe. What a sad thing to say — that such beauty, that such wonder, is insignificant. The sadness in this expression can easily lead people to believe that we too, as human beings are insignificant, just a mere accident of the universe; and if we’re insignificant, where’s the hope and joy? And if that’s true — which as Christians we don’t believe it is —how then can one explain love, forgiveness, and the beauty we sense with our full being.
No! This planet we call home is no accident; it’s not insignificant, and neither are you, or anybody else for that face. We all, and this universe we call home, are glorious, because the one who created us, is glorious. Like the Psalmist said, let us praise the name of the Lord.
You know, when we publically call upon God’s name by praising and thanking him; we’re making known among the nations what he has done; we’re telling of all his wonderful acts. And by testifying in this simple way, we help those who are seeking the face of God to see his glory — and that in itself is glorious.
SEEKING GOD’S GLORY
There’s an old saying among the military: there’s no such thing as atheists in foxholes. A true atheist is one who completely denies the existence of God; therefore a pure atheist is kind of like one who thinks that everyone is purely random and insignificant — kinda like what I talked about earlier.
Now, I believe there are people who truly are atheists; but in all reality, I think they are rarer than many atheists themselves want to admit. I think most people just don’t want to hear and believe that we need to see the world and each other with new eyes. I think a lot of people just don’t want to hear that, to truly live a fulfilled life, that we need to give our lives over to God and acknowledge his Glory, versus that which we think we have in and of ourselves.
Yet, many people who deny God, often call out his name in times of despair and trouble, or simply take his name in vain. If one does not believe in the possibility of God, then why call upon his name or even use it flippantly in conversation? Where am I going with all this, you might be thinking.
While many people want to ignore God, or deny he’s out there somewhere — lurking in the hidden places of the heart — some will cry-out to him in times of trail. In times of trouble, those with unveiled faces look to the Lord for strength; in moments of despair, the hearts of many seek the LORD for something to rejoice in, and for God to reveal his glory in miraculous ways.
Yet, because God’s Word says that unbelievers have veils over their faces, the glory of God’s creation cannot be seen with newborn eyes, until the veil is lifted. Paul wrote in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians 3:12–17. Allow me to paraphrase Paul a bit.
“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we should be bold with our faith. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep others from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. The mind of the unbeliever has been made dull. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
God desires we live our lives with praise and thanksgiving. God commands us to live as Christians who love one another and our neighbors — versus being those who tear each other down with our eyes, thoughts, words, and deeds. Instead, we should be joyful at all times so that we can help others seek Christ, be being that which they don’t expect.
Ya now, one of the biggest excuses non-church going people like to use to not seek God’s face is because they perceive that we — the church — are hypocritical in the way we live our lives and treat one another. Ya know, there’s some truth in their assertions. When we snarl at one another, shake our heads, nit-pick and the like, their words resonate a sad truth.
However, Paul said to the Galatians, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Gal 5:13-15).
Seven verses later, Paul said to live according to the fruit of the Spirit; that fruit being “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
When those who are truly seeking the face of God see things these later things — the fruit of the Spirit —and see us praising God and being thankful to him, despite any condition or circumstance that we’re going through — well then, it’s easier for them to “look to the LORD and his strength; and [to] seek his face” (Ps 105:4). ---- PAUSE ----
GLORY REVEALED IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST
Said in the most simplest of ways, Jesus reveals the glorious face of God. John 1:14 says, “he Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
In writing of Jesus’ transfiguration, the Apostle Matthew wrote, “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Two verses later Matthew continued, “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Mt 17:2–5).
I could continue to list scripture-after-scripture that testifies to the Glory of God as seen in the face of Jesus Christ. Yet we cannot see the face of Christ today. The unbeliever cannot see the face of Christ today, but they can see the face of Christ in us, and in God’s word, if we choose to show them the gloriousness of God.
The Apostle Paul in also writing to the church in Corinth said, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age — [he’s referring to the devil] —has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Co 4:3–6). Paul’s words echo VV5-6 of Psalm 105. Let’s finish our time by looking at these last few verses, and back again to the beginning READ VV5-6 & 1-2.
LET US GIVE THANKS -- WE TOO WILL BE GLORIFIED
Paul, in finishing his thought in chapter three verse 18, wrote, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Paul’s words continue to echo those of the Psalmist with harmonic beauty.
Together, he and the Psalmist provide such encouraging words for us. Paraphrasing them, they are saying to us, “Children of God in Christ Jesus — you who are chosen in God — you who will be glorified — give thanks to the Lord our God, call upon his name and make his name known, for he has chosen you to be the gloriousness of God through Christ Jesus.
Ya know, as glorious as all the earth is, none of that compares to the awesome creation -- you -- each -- are, in Christ Jesus. If you have God’s Spirit within you, then reflect his gloriousness. If you say to others that you are a Christian, then be thankful always. If you came here today or listening on the internet, and can hear my voice, then praise God always for what he’s done.
Let us be like Christ Jesus and be transformed —in our hearts and minds — into the gloriousness of God; and let us reflect the light and love of God for all to see, so that those with veiled faces can see the glorious face of God in us, and desire that too.
Amen, let us pray.
