OUR GREAT GOD
Isaiah 55:8-11
Perhaps you have heard of the little boy in the Sunday School class who, during activity time, was busily drawing and sketching. His teacher, wishing to show her interest and encourage him, said, "Sammy, what are you drawing?" He calmly replied, "God." After a bit of thought, his teacher gently said, "But Sammy, No one really knows exactly what God looks like." He glanced up at her with a rather scathing look and indignantly replied, "Well, they will when I get through!"
What is your view and concept of God? What is God really like? Does he really exist? Can His existence be conclusively proven? I am sure there has never been an intelligent creature who has not speculated upon the answers to these and other related questions. Of course, answers are as varied as the background and view points of those asking such questions.
Yes, man has varying views about God. Some see God as a mysterious, invisible force, devoid of personality, occasionally interjecting itself into man’s affairs to slightly adjust the wheels of man’s fate and self-imposed destiny. In their view this nebulous, mystical force, permeates the universe and is inter-connected with all life; guiding and controlling the common evolutionary destiny of all creatures. The common and popular expression, "The force be with you," is based upon more than innocent science fiction fancy. It reflects a dangerous new-age view of God that can undermine the faith of even those who have been reared and nurtured in a Bible-believing home.
There are those who see God as a weak, doddering, hesitant and ineffective grayhaired old man; sitting up above on the circle of the universe. He awakes, yawns and stretches himself each morning and looks down upon the earth to see what mischief man has gotten up to overnight. He throws up his hands in despair at the mess he sees and then perhaps makes a few minor adjustments to salvage the worst situations.
There are those who see God as just a dusty relic of history. Some commonly view Him as a cruel and vengeful God of wrath; looking down upon the earth, poised to pierce the wicked and unwary with a lightning bolt of terrible justice and judgment.
Some look at God as a mere life preserver to grab when they run aground on the shoals of adversity or are capsized by the storms of life. Others look upon Him as a sort of spiritual spare tire to use when they have a flat or breakdown on the road of life. Many see Him as a sponge or handy wipe they can use to wipe up their spilled spiritual milk. A common concept conceives Him as an umbrella to break out when it clouds up and rains on life’s parade.
Can God make a stone so heavy that He cannot lift it? Could God throw a spear so far away He could not reach it? Could God devise a puzzle so complex He could not solve it? How many angels could God cause to dance on the head of a pin? All the old conundrums about God’s character and attributes serve to speak to the awesome nature of our great Sovereign and to man’s puny attempts to cut Him down to a quantity and quality he can deal with. Such silly sayings reflect man’s desire to be the master of his own fate. His wish to row his own boat, captain his own ship, rule his own life and do his own thing shows through. In his pride, he seems to feel ridicule will somehow absolve him of responsibility to recognize and serve his Creator, the Lord of the universe.
But the great God of this universe is far beyond man’s finite comprehension or definition. He defies man’s wish to confine Him in a theological box or display Him as an intellectual trophy. He thwarts man’s attempt to analyze Him in the crucible of logic and dissect Him in the test tube of reason. He remains far above and beyond all man’s mundane attempts to bring Him down to his own level of mental mediocrity.
God someday will have the last word and last laugh on the matter. (See Prov. 1:18-23, Phil 2:9-11) In the meantime, God Himself has spoken of the futility of man’s frail attempt to find Him out. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9)
It is clear finite man can never fully comprehend and understand the great and infinite nature of the God of this universe. But just as Moses, Isaiah, Peter and John were given glimpses of His glory in their personal encounters with Jehovah, we are also given glimpses of His greatness and the majesty of our great God throughout the scriptures. His attributes are described in simple terminology designed to clearly convey aspects of His infinite character to His finite creatures. In this heavenly glimpse of His divine Being God unveiled to the beloved John when he was in the spirit on that momentous Lord’s Day, we can also make some divine deductions about OUR GREAT GOD. Here we can see A LARGE GOD - A LIVING GOD - A GOD WITH A LIMITLESS AND LASTING LOVE.
We are called to know and serve A LARGE GOD. John’s vision brings into momentary focus the greatness of our God. The audio visual effect is overwhelming. So much so, John is struck down by the impact. We can only imagine the enormity of the vision God gave John as he strives, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to place into human symbolic language the other-worldly sights and sounds that accompanied this glorious manifestation of the great God of our universe. In case some modern day false teachers and imitators may give a wrong interpretation and application of the incident, it is worthy of note that the subsequent reassuring touch of God was not designed to "slay" John, but to encourage him and raise him up.
The greatness of our God is made clear throughout the scriptures as well. "For great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also [is] to be feared above all gods." (1 Chron. 16:25) "Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness." (Ps 48:1) "Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable." (Ps 145:3 ) "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)
In the oldest book of the Bible the writer uses rhetorical language to describe the greatness of our God. He compares our powerful and pure God to poor and puny man. "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? [It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." (Job 11:7-9)
But perhaps the personal aspect of the greatness of our God is a more practical and productive consideration for us today. Perhaps the most important question may by, "Just how large is your God?" Is He larger than life in your life? Do you let Him loom large in leadership in your living? Do you allow Him a large place in your priorities? Is He, His will and His glory, the most important consideration in your daily decisions? In your home? In your workaday world? In your social and recreational life? In your moral and political philosophy? In your church life?
It is said that Alexander the Great was anxious to reward one of his faithful generals for great and heroic deeds performed on the field of battle. When he called the soldier before him, he thanked him for his valiant service in winning a great battle, and then asked him what reward would he like for his service? The great general boldly and bravely requested the position of ruler over a large province. Those listening gasped in great astonishment at the man’s audacity. The great Alexander rebuked them. He said to his general, "Your request has honored me. A great ruler can grant great requests." Then he generously gave his general his desire.
As in the case of Alexander’s general, our estimation of the greatness of our God is directly related to the magnitude of our faith and expectations. There are many examples in the Bible to confirm this concept. Just what was Moses’ vision of God’s greatness when he stretched the rod God had given him across the Red Sea and cried out to a weak, fearful and trembling nation, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!"? Just what greatness did Joshua’s eye of faith envision when he, in the face of possible ridicule and resistance, fearlessly and faithfully marched the children of Israel around the walls of Jericho and shouted for the walls to come tumbling down? Just what greatness did Nehemiah imagine when he, surrounded by fearsome and formidable enemies, rode around the walls of the fallen city of Jerusalem in the night watch, and saw in his mind’s eye the walls standing strong and solid again to the glory of God?
Is our God able today? Do we have any rivers that are "uncrossable"? Do we have any mountains that are unclimable? Do we have any walls that are unbreachable? Do we have any walls that are unbuildable? Do we have any fiery furnaces whose flames are unquenchable ? Do we face any lions whose mouths are unstoppable? Do we have problems that seem insoluble? Do we have any foes who are unconquerable? Do we have any friends who seem unreachable? Do we have any hurts that seem unhealable? Surely the great God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob can come to our aid today, if only we believe Him.
Just how great is our God today? Was John exaggerating when he said, "..greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."? (I John 4:4) Was Paul deluded when he said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phill. 4:13) Were they, and other Biblical writers, merely engaging in meaningless superlatives when they spoke of the great God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Yes, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is still on His throne today. He simply seeks to sit on the throne of our hearts as well. We only need a great and Godly vision of the victories he can give us in our life, church, family and nation. (II Chronicles 7:14)
Our Great God is A LIVING GOD. In John’s vision the primary emphasis is upon a LIVING GOD. A living God as shown to us by a living Savior. He said to John, "I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,.." The old hymn of the faith speaks for all of those who know Him in His resurrection and who walk with Him day by day, "I serve a living Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He’s always near. . . . You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."
Yes, it is tremendous that John gives us a view of a living God. The bodies of those who founded, organized and advanced all the great religions and philosophies of the world remain in their graves. We know where we can find the dead bodies of Confucias, Buddha, Mohammed and even Lenin. We also know where we can find the living body of our Savior, but it is certainly not to be found in a grave in Jerusalem! It is said that one great world conqueror, upon observing the tremendous power and influence for good that Jesus Christ had exerted upon history, wondered aloud how he could achieve the same. One his close friends said to him, "It’s simple. Just get yourself crucified and then rise from the grave on the third day!"
John’s vision reminds again of the practical aspect of serving A GREAT LIVING GOD. It would not be reasonable to serve a dead God or idol. Elijah drove this point home to the prophets of Baal who had cried all day long to a deaf and dead idol God. It would be illogical, unreasonable and insane to serve a deceiver, lunatic or dead imposter.
Paul said it is reasonable to present our bodies a living sacrifice - to serve a living Saviour. But what is a living sacrifice? Paul said it is to be ready to live or die for Him, no matter what the cost. It is said an old Roman coin had the image of an Ox, standing between a plough and an altar. The inscription read, "Ready for either." Obviously, service or sacrifice. So it should be with those who walk with a living Saviour.
Many of our living God’s promises to walk with us and personally participate in our life, seem to relate to duty and service. He said, "Follow me, and I will make of you..." He promised, "Take up your cross . . . and ye shall find rest unto your souls." His promise, ". . . and lo, I am with you always.." was conditioned upon active participation in carrying out all facets of His great commission. We have no promise that if we sit in sinful disobedience in our small circles of introspective navel inspectors, that our living God will sit with us. He always says, "Go, and I will go with you.."
Why are so many Christians weak, weary, faltering and failing? Could it be that the power of a living Savior primarily abides upon those who tread the pathway of duty and service? R. G. Lee once said, "Duty and service are the most rewarding and sublime words in the human language. Surely it is also so for the Christian’s spiritual vocabulary."
That which is not achieved through struggle is seldom worth having. In fact it often brings more harm than help. We see the truth of this played out in the lives of many who somehow obtain easy money through such greedy practices as gambling and lotteries. How often we hear of their ultimate disaster and read of their statements indicating they feel they would have been much better off if they had never gotten their hands on such ill-gotten gains.
John’s vision of a living God is made even more vivid in the valley and shadow of death. Man may boastfully bluff his way through days of health and prosperity, brightness and beauty, but when he comes face to face with the stark reality of the inevitability of that common denominator of all mankind, he needs more than bravado to make sense of it all. It is commonly said that even the most brash and brutish of men will sometimes cry out for the comfort of their mother’s arms in their final hours. Others will, as the thief on the cross, cry out to God for mercy.
John shows us a GOD WITH A LIMITLESS AND LASTING LOVE. Can you imagine the overwhelming fear and apprehension that possessed and literally struck John down on that awesome occasion? Then the great Sovereign of this universe condescends to reach down and tenderly touch and reassure him! What loving care and compassion! Those of us who have known the touch of the Master’s hand cannot help but be reminded of the old song, "He touched me, He touched me, and, oh, the joy that filled my soul. Something happened, and now I know, He touched me, and He made me whole." And of the old poem, The Touch Of The Master;s Hand."
How can one describe God’s love? There are some things that by their very nature seem to defy adequate description. The beauty of a sunset. The thrill of holding your first child in your arms. The sight of home after a long absence. But for finite man to describe the infinite love of God poses an even greater dilemma.
The Bible itself contains some great love stories. Jacob loved Rachel so much that he served his future father-in-law without pay for seven years to win her hand. And then when Laban deceived him and gave him his first born daughter Leah instead, Jacob served seven more years for the hand of his beloved Rachel. He then said that the time had passed but as a few days because of his great love for her. But God’s love is still greater.
When David’s beloved friend Jonathan was slain he said, "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women..." But God’s love is much greater.
Hosea loved his wife Gomer, a woman who was not worthy. The story of his unconditional love for his harlot wife is a story given to represent the love of God for Israel and for sinful man. But the love of God is infinitely greater.
The father of the prodigal, whose son had wasted his inheritance; saw him returning home, dissipated, dirty, shameful, dressed in rags, but he ran and fell upon his neck, kissed him, placed a ring upon his finger, dressed him in luxuries robes, and declared a great feast. But even our Savior’s story could only faintly illustrate the love of God for a lost sinner. God’s love is even greater.
Man even has great love stories. Anthony and Cleopatra. Romeo and Juliett. But none of these even begin to represent the love God has for man and for His people
The ultimate illustration and expression of that love is seen in the cross of Christ. "For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeith in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
It is said that an anonymous poet once tried to describe the impossibility of understanding and expressing the infinite love of God with these words found scrawled upon the walls of an insane asylum:
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the sky of parchment made,
Were every blade of grass a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry,
Nor would the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
God’s love is limitless and lasting in quantity as well as quality. The depths of man’s need is the only true scale upon which God’s love can begin to be measured. Sin is much more than skin deep in our culture today. Just as a malignant cancerous growth often requires radical surgery rather than a surface salve, surface remedies will not cure sinful man’s spiritual needs. New leaders, new systems of government, new economic orders or a new world order will make no lasting difference. We hear many gospels being preached, but only the gospel of love of God is deep enough to reach down and root out the real problem.
The grace of God’s limitless love can be gauged by the depth of God’s cleansing. God invitation to His people centuries ago is still as valid and essential today, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa. 1:18) His promise of lasting loving forgiveness to those who will come in repentance and faith is still as precious today. "...and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19) "As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:2)
Just how limitless and deep is God’s love? The story is told that Nansen, the great Norwegian explorer, was measuring the depth of the arctic sea. In the ship’s log successive entries were made as the water became progressively deeper. Finally, when all his measuring line was played out and still did not touch the bottom, the last entry in the log simply read, "Deeper than that!" God’s love is the same.
Just how limitless and wide is God’s love? The story is told that a farmer placed a weather vane on top of his barn and painted, "God is love," in large letters upon it. His neighbor, who was a Christian, became quite upset and asked Him, "What did you did that? Are you insulting God and implying that His love is as changeable as the wind?" "No," his neighbor replied, "I just mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love!"
The limitless and lasting love of our living God is truly beyond our understanding. His is a love that won’t let us off. His is a love that requires us to be accountable to Him. His love constrains us or requires us to serve him. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (I John 5:3)
Man’s so-called love is minimal and often conditional upon reciprocation. Man speaks of falling in and out of love. God’s love has it’s greatest expression when we fail Him. "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." (Hosea 14:4) If we fail in our faithfulness and obedience and wander away from Him, His limitless and lasting love will move Him to act decisively and drastically to draw us back to Him,
Many times parents act as if permissiveness and love are synonymous. It is not so. Our culture has sown to the wind and is reaping the whirlwind of this philosophical folly. But God is both a wise and loving Father. His love will not let us off. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." (Heb. 12:6) Those of us who have been fortunate enough to have parents who believed and practiced the sort of Godly love that would not let us off, should praise God for them!
His is a love that will never let us down. Friends may fail and betray us, but He never will. Great is His faithfulness. Even in our folly we find He’s ever faithful and underneath are the everlasting arms. It has been said that a child of God can never fall into a ditch or pit that is so deep He will not find God at the bottom of it. Psalm 37:24 "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand" His is a love that will never let us go. The words of the old children’s hymn speak so eloquently of that love that will never let us go. "Tho I forget Him and wander away, Still He doth love me whereever I stray, Back to His dear loving arms would I flee, when I remember that Jesus loves. I am so glad that Jesus loves me."
The limitlessness of God’s lasting love can be measured by His promise to save. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25) This love reflects the eternality of God and His Son. Just as Christ has no beginning or ending, His love has no beginning nor ending. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8) "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee..." (Jer. 31:3)
John’s vision of a LARGE, LIVING AND LOVING GOD WITH A LIMITLESS AND LASTING LOVE, is focused upon the resurrected Christ of the cross. It is He who has the keys to death and hell and the grave, Why? Because He conquered and triumphed over them on that hill called Calvary. Paul said of that awful but triumphant encounter, "[And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Co. 2:16) It was there He tasted death for us and for everyone who will repent and place their absolute faith and trust in Him. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9)
The story is told of a man who challenged a street evangelist in an outdoor meeting. He stood and shouted defiance and shaking his fist toward heaven cried out, "There is no God, If there is, I dare Him to judge me and strike me dead in the next five minutes!" After five minutes had passed, he stood and shook his fist in God’s face again and shouted out, "I told you there is no God. This proves it!" The evangelist simply said, "You have just proven God exists. For God is love. He gave His only begotten Son on the cross that even those who spate upon Him and crucified Him might be saved. He is not willing that anyone should perish but wishes everyone to come to repentance. If He had struck you dead He could never have been saved. He is just given you another chance and says to you, "Behold today is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time.’" The man then fell upon his knees and cried out to God for salvation.
