How Great Thou Art

As believers our theology is acquired through our reading of God's word, and applied through our experience of God's world. This is true of every aspect of our knowledge of God, but none more so than in our apprehension of Him as our Creator. This thought has been ringing through my mind over the past six days as we have been experiencing the beauty and glories of Peru's landscape. Time and again our minds have been drawn to the greatness of our God who formed all of these things.

But as I have considered creation, I've been challenged about how small my view of God can be, and how this can affect my witness to His glory. Whether standing at 2800ft on the peak of Slieve Donard, or at 14000ft in the Andes, I'm challenged as to whether my praise of God is truly based on how great He is.

A quote from scientist Charles Misner in John Piper's Let the Nations Be Glad regarding Einstein's rejection of Christianity has spoken volumes to me -

"The design of the universe is very magnificent and shouldn't be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little time for organised religion, although he strikes me basically as a very religious man. He must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt they were blaspheming. He had seen so much more majesty than they have ever imagined, and they were just not talking about the real thing. My guess is that he simply felt that religions he'd run across did not have proper respect for the author of the universe."

Living in the shadow of the Andes, or amidst the lushness of Armagh, do I really show proper respect for the One who formed, fashioned and sustains all that I see around me? And more than that, do I truly grasp what it meant for Him not to spare His Son, but send Him to die to take away my sin?

Elvis, our bus driver, had a picture of Jesus sealed into the gear lever of his bus. We have the living Creator God truly sealed within our hearts through personal faith in His Son, and yet I don't think I understand a fraction of His majesty!

May God give us grace to know Him better, to worship Him more fully, and to publish His name more widely.