Attributes of God: The Supremacy of God
In one of my military assignments, I received notice that the commanding general wanted to visit my training site and get a briefing on how the new weapon system program was progressing. In true military fashion, there were many phone calls coordinating his visit as well as newly acquired interest in this program by many intermediate commanders. This 4-star general was genuinely interested in how we were fielding this new weapon system and how the training was coming along. In the days leading up to the visit, I made sure the facilities were immaculately clean, the equipment was fully functional and I even had a freshly pressed uniform to make a good impression. On the day of the visit, there was a full entourage of about 25 people consisting of other commanders, a couple of armed bodyguards, photographers, and other "strap hangers". The visit lasted about 2 hours and everything went well. Soon enough everything went back to business as usual.
As significant of a person this commander was, he pales in comparison to our God.
Our God is infinitely more significant and supreme than any leader who walked the face of the earth. Scripture refers to Him as the King of kings and LORD of lords. Here's what Isaiah wrote about the supremacy of God.
Chapter 40:13-15, "Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or who gave him counsel? Who did he consult? Who gave him understanding and taught him the paths of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding? Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust on the scales; he lifts up the islands like fine dust."
v17-18 "All the nations are as nothing before him; they are considered by him as empty nothingness. With whom will you compare God? What likeness will you set up for comparison with him?"
v25-26 "To whom will you compare me, or who is my equal? asks the Holy One. Look up and see! Who created these? He brings out the stars by number' he calls all of them by name. Because of his great power and strength, not one of them is missing."
This same God who rules over all of creation and the universe loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins in order for us to be reconciled to Himself and spend eternity with Him. Whoever believes this is given eternal life. Does that sound like any other king or leader here on earth? Usually they are concerned about self more than anything else. This commanding general that I mentioned at the beginning, the person that everyone went out of their way in order to please, didn't give up more than his time and attention.
Our God gives us eternal life, motivated by love, not because of anything we deserved and in spite of who we are. Our response should be similar to that of king David as he prayed before the Israelites. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 reads, "May you be blessed, LORD God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now, therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name."
Sometimes we worship God with a casual attitude without realizing how disrespectful we can be. When we meditate on David's prayer, our response should reflect what we read in Ps 2:11 Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.
Respectfully,
Pastor Bryan