By Carine MacKenzie
You are out in the countryside on a beautiful day, admiring the view, enthralled by the trees and the songs of the birds. What is your response? How does a dramatic sunset affect you? When you see a field of wheat, ripe and ready for harvesting, do you congratulate the farmer? Or do you think of our Creator God, who made the heavens and the earth? (Psalm 124.8.)
So much of the beauty and glory around us, is shut out of our lives as we are distracted by television, mobile phones and other devices, but our created universe is speaking loudly to us and inviting us to respond. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19.1.). “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth You have set your glory above the heavens.” (Psalm 8.1.). Our response to the view, the sunset, the field of wheat should be, “What a wonderful Creator, worthy of all praise and glory.” The bird was made to fly; the fish was made to swim. We are made to glorify God and enjoy him for ever. (Shorter Catechism 1)
We glorify God when we praise his name, and when we thank him for all his goodness to us. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice, glorifies me,” God says in Psalm 50.23. Our all–knowing, all–powerful, holy and just God deserves all the glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever” (Romans 11.36.)
All of life must be for the glory of God – even the mundane, everyday activities. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. (1 Corinthians 10.31.). Singing praises to God, gives him glory too. “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100.2.). Johann Sebastian Bach was a talented musician and composer. Many people would praise him for his wonderful music. “I play the notes as they are written” he said. “It is God who makes the music.” His prayer was “Help me to show your glory.” We would like this prayer too as we work and play and interact with friends and family.
The Lord Jesus Christ reveals God’s glory. God created the world through him. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. (Hebrews 1.2–3.). The Son of God is known as the Word and he was with God from the beginning. All things were made through him. (John 1.1–3.) The Son of God became a man and dwelt among us. John tells us that he has “seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1.14.). John, James and Peter were witnesses when Jesus was transfigured, and his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17.2.). What an amazing experience for them. Peter speaks about this experience in his second letter. He tells us that we have something more sure and valuable in the Word of God – the Scriptures that we have too. How much God deserves our praise and thanks for giving us his Word.
Our supreme gift is Jesus, God’s own Son who gave his life to save his people from their sins. “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Galatians 6.14.)
Each day of creation tells us about God’s glory.
Each day of our life should be for God’s glory.
Carine MacKenzie’s talent for retelling Bible stories has meant that children from all over the world have been given the opportunity to discover Jesus Christ for themselves. She has sales of several million books and lives in Inverness, Scotland.
Her book Creation Sings is available at local Christian bookshops, or online:
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