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| A "Happy 30th Birthday" image from the Hubble Space Telescope |
We Need a Grander Vision of God
Thirty years ago NASA sent a space telescope into orbit above the earth to view the cosmos. On it's 30th birthday, Hubble sent back this stunning image of two gas clouds (nebula).
Why put a telescope in orbit? One simple reason - you must rise above the distorting effects of earth's atmosphere to see the majesty of the universe clearly. Earth-bound telescopes must peer through the ever turbulent effects of the air.
It's the same with us.
In today's gloom-laden world we can't see clearly. Media headlines so often reflect the pessimism and fear of our world. "After the Disease, the debt" "Is China winning?" "The business of survival" - to mention three headlines from just one news magazine.
To see straight we must rise above the atmosphere of fear and pessimism, to the serenity of heaven, where the power really lies. For a couple of days let us meditate on a few verses from Isaiah 40, starting with:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.
Above all Idols
Isaiah is keen to comfort God's people in a crisis. The unthinkable had just happened, the northern kingdom of Israel had been dragged into captivity - away from the promised land! Would that happen to the southern kingdom of Judah as well?
Surrounded by idol-worshipping nations perhaps it was time for Judah to make her own idols and turn to them for help. But, no, says Isaiah, those idols, whether wood or metal are no comparison to God. "To whom, then, will you compare God?"
Our world is turning to idols to solve the Coronavirus pandemic - medicine, money and politicians.
And we might be tempted to do the same.
And that is where Isaiah steps in.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.
Isaiah can't believe it!
God's people should know, should have heard, should have been told, and from ancient times, that God is the sovereign ruler over all! Why isn't that truth fixed in their minds? Why are they even tempted to contemplate dumb idols?
Since their God is so great, the One who "... sits enthroned above the circle of the earth..."
Ever since Adam, idolatry is deeply rooted in all our old sinful hearts! We turn so easily to man-made solutions instead of trusting wholly and solely in God, and in his mighty power.
Isaiah takes us above the murky atmosphere of this world into the throne room of heaven....
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.
Let us remember today that God sits enthroned in heaven. He is not passively relaxing on a golden seat, he is actively ruling - "enthroned" means "reigning on high."
Men and women are not in charge of our world, God is. Politicians don't rule, God does. People by contrast are mere grasshoppers, by size and power! (We might say today, "the people of the world are like tiny little viruses" by contrast to the might and majesty of God!)
Jesus is enthroned on High
We know, from the New Testament that God has seated Jesus "far above all rule and authority" and placed all things under the feet of Jesus "for the church." (Ephesians 1).
Jesus rules over the universe for the benefit, the good of his people, the Church! That is an awesome thought and a comforting truth! In some wonderful way, King Jesus allows this and allows that into our lives and churches and nations but always for our benefit, always for our good, always for the extension of his glorious kingdom!
So let us not fear, whatever happens. Let us trust in God, trust in his almighty power, trust in his love, trust in his infinitely higher ways, and believe that good will come out of trouble - whether that trouble be Coronavirus or a personal emergency we may be facing.
We need a grander vision of God!
A SONG FOR THE DAY
I have chosen a hymn which lifts our minds and hearts to the majesty of God.
O Lord my God!
When I in awesome wonder
consider all the works
Thy hands have made,
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
the power throughout
the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul,
my Saviour God, to Thee,
how great Thou art,
how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
my Saviour God, to Thee,
how great Thou art,
how great Thou art!
When through the woods
and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds
sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook,
and feel the gentle breeze;
And when I think
that God His Son not sparing,
sent Him to die -
I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross
my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
And when I think
that God His Son not sparing,
sent Him to die -
I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross
my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
Stuart K Hine
You can sing along HERE
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Our gracious Father in heaven,
Help us to rise above the murky atmosphere of despair and gloom.
Help us to remember, with joy, every day, that you have installed your King on your heavenly hill. We thank you that Jesus is seated at your right hand and rules over all for the good of his people, the church.
Forgive us when we so easily turn from you to dumb idols!
Remind us today that your Son is King, and teach us to trust in him alone, and to turn to him alone, in every trouble and in every sorrow.
We worship your great and holy name,
Amen.
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