“The council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.” (Psalm 89:7 NIV)
“Awesome,” the young server responded as we gave our restaurant order. It made us wonder how our simple order could be that “awesome”. Sometimes, it seems like good words are so overused that they lose their impact or meaning. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word awesome as “causing feelings of great admiration, respect, or fear”, so I doubt that our order from a menu fits that category.
The Word of God contains the words “awe” and “awesome” to describe what no other word could do: a Presence with all power Who exists throughout eternity and Who is beyond our comprehension. As humans, all we can do is to respond with wonder and praise.
I recall some instances of feeling that jaw-dropping, absolute awe. One was seeing our first granddaughter when she was less than an hour old, so tiny and pink, looking out at me from an incubator. Another was very late at night next to a lakeside camping spot, when the only lights were from innumerable stars. The vastness of the ocean during a beach walk, or the depth of the Grand Canyon, or a beautiful sunset have all evoked the same wonderment within me. In each of these moments, I was silent because there were no adequate words to express my feelings. Deep inside, I knew that these things were because of God’s power of creation at work to point me to Him.
Now, here is a really, truly awesome event that John, the beloved disciple, records:
“Among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’” (Revelation 1:13-18 NIV)
Think of this, my friends. Someday, we will all stand before this very One! How will we respond? I’m sure that we all will be brought to our knees to bow before His powerful and truly awesome presence.
Prayer: Our Father, today, we bow in humble adoration and awe to thank You for Your holiness and power and love for us. Help us to live humbly before You, always praising Your greatness, till You come again. In the name of Your Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Copyright © 2022, by Sharon Lundquist <lundquistsharon4@gmail.com>, first published on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional presbycan.ca
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Used with the permission of PresbyCan and author.
