Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 29
Focus: Psalm 29:1-6
“Praise the LORD, you heavenly beings; praise his glory and power.
Praise the LORD’s glorious name; bow down before the Holy One when he appears.
The voice of the LORD is heard on the seas; the glorious God thunders, and his voice echoes over the ocean. The voice of the LORD is heard in all its might and majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, even the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes the mountains of Lebanon jump like calves and makes Mount Hermon leap like a young bull…”
If you are a big fan of nature, like I am, you will love this psalm. David is extolling the indescribable majesty and awesome power of God in the ongoing witness of nature…the vastness of the deep blue oceans, the breathtaking beauty of the mountain peaks, the chest-rattling sounds of the thunder and knee-knocking fierceness of an electrical storm. Truly God was doing some of his best work when he created the cosmos.
I was flying back to the beautiful city of Portland some time back after being in the Midwest for a few days. The sky was clear—a brilliant blue. We flew over the majestic Rockies after a plane change in Denver, and I was yet again struck by the stunning scene before me—the snow-capped wonder for the Front Range, an unhindered view of several 14,000 footers all the way from Pike’s Peak on the South to Long’s Peak on the north. Hard to beat!
But that was just the beginning. As we neared Portland, the pilot—I’m sure just for my benefit—flew as close to Mt. Hood as I have ever been. It was so close it seemed as though you could reach out and touch it. Words can’t do justice to its overwhelming wonder. But then out the other window was an amazing shot of Mt. St. Helens…or what’s left of it. And if Mt. Hood reminded me of God’s unequaled artistry, Mt. St. Helens reminded me of his unequaled power.
All I could do was what David did in verse one: “Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!”
But guess what? As amazing as God’s work in nature was, it wasn’t even his best work. You are his best work! You are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). The best of God’s power and majesty, glory and strength were on display when he redeemed you from your sin, made you a part of his forever family, granted you kingdom authority and gave you a divine purpose for this life and the one to come. And none of that due to your own worthiness, mind you! It was all because of his great love!
Yep! As wonderful as Planet Earth is, it doesn’t even compare to God’s recreation of you!
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“There is no peace more wonderful than the peace we enjoy when faith shows us God in all created things.” (Jean-Pierre de Caused Hall)
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