With shouts of “God is great”, the deceived detonate weapons that kill many unsuspecting men, women and children. “New atheists” argue that God is not great. Still others who suffer struggle with the truth that God is great. To these, God is limited, small, unable, or vastly evil. Yet, in him is the magnificence of goodness. God is big and he has no equal, but that should not intimidate or scare anyone because God is also holy, good, and loving.
Although God is great when he heals, provides, and comforts anyone in need, the salvation that he offers is the shining proof of his greatness. It is a great salvation! The writer of Hebrews reminds us that salvation should not and cannot be taken lightly. “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3)
The magnitude of God’s love for his creation causes him to earnestly desire the salvation of all. In fact to turn away from his free gift is to act against his will and make him out to be tiny and uncaring, if existent at all.
Two prophets who declared the greatness of God, put it this way; “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him.” (Isaiah 55:7) and “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity?” (Micah 7:18)
Paul chimed in by writing; “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
The difference between God and mankind is that, if we were in charge, we would have blotted humanity out long ago. We are little, but the greatness of God’s goodness extends patience and love to all. Not only that, but God makes a way, the only way, when we could not do enough to be restored to relationship with him. It is the complete way. It is God’s way. It’s salvation through Jesus Christ!
Paul told the Ephesians that “God being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)
God does not condemn with bombs. He is not evil. He sent the Son into the world, “that the world might be save through Him”. (John 3:17) “He (God) rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13, 14) Now that’s greatness of the best kind!
Jared Anderson wrote a song of worship that I often like to sing in my private devotions. The bridge of “Amazed” expresses the worship due God. “How wide, how deep, how great is your love for me”.
Some distort who God is by committing terrible atrocities in his name, and others may even deny his very existence. But those who have tasted salvation direct worship to the “Great King” (Matthew 5:35), “the Great High Priest” (Hebrews 4:14), “the Great Shepherd” (Hebrews 13:20) and the “Great Saviour” (Titus 2:13) We appreciate your Comments