Real Reverence for the Absolute Ruler
“Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12” (KJV)
When was the last time you saturated your thoughts about the sovereignty of God? As I purposed to process God’s sovereignty, I was immediately taken by this transcendent truth. What we elevate as extraordinarily significant: fame, riches, intellect, influence, or power is mightily mitigated by His majesty. Man at his pinnacle of success or at his very best (relative to this world) is tantamount to a comparison between a brief flare and burn of the tip of a match being struck and God as the brightness and the brilliance of the noonday sun.
Here is what the word of God says about the glory of man:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.” Isaiah 40:7 (KJV)
“For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” James 1:11 (KJV)
The word “sovereign” denotes one that exercises supreme, permanent authority; a ruler enjoying excellent and supreme position and power. In church history, the doctrine of the sovereignty of God was previously declared with boldness and power throughout the body of Christ. This essential biblical truth encourages a personal security better than social security, solidifies us in spiritual strength, eviscerates the egos of those that hide from humility and pours the profound peace of God in our hearts and minds. God’s sovereignty extinguishes the flames of fear and reminds us that when the world seems out of control, God is in control.
When we give deliberate consideration to God’s sovereignty it crushes conceit and cancels out confusion because again it becomes absolutely clear about who is in charge and eternally large in our lives.
I really enjoy how gospel composer and artist Fred Hammond expressed soundly, spiritually and soulfully the Sovereignty of God:
Our God is high and lifted up and you should know that’s just the way it is.
He’s the ruler of the heavens and earth below that’s just the way it is.
He’s in control of my life, He’s sovereign He’s knows what’s right.
He will take care of His own.
He’s God and He’s on the throne, ruler of earth and sky and everything there is.
He is crowned Most High and His kingdom never ends.
I remind myself every now and then, He’s God and that’s just the way it is. Our opening passage powerfully promotes the absolute position, power and permanence of God’s rule. He rightfully requires reverence or respect in our relationship with Him.
Join me again next week when I will invite you to entertain the thought that God wants our respect, will have it unequivocally and will experience our respect and honor. One must respect God first before he can respect others and himself.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR