His Majesty

This morning I thought of a robot. A very sophisticated robot. When we were in California for vacation this summer, Aaron and his girlfriend, Jen, spent one day together at Disneyland. That next day they told us all about their fun time. The one experience they told about that stood out to me was their description of a robot demonstration.

Apparently some scientists sponsored by the Honda Corporation spent over 10 years and millions of dollars designing this amazing robot. Aaron and Jen said it was incredible to see this robot dance, walk around like a human and even climb stairs. Isn't it amazing what mankind can invent?

I am astonished at the special effects that filmmakers and their computer technicians can create. Watching "Shrek" or "The Lord of the Rings" or the most recent "Superman Returns" movie blows my mind as I see and hear what these creative and technically savvy people can display on cinema.

When Susan and I were in Chicago, we went on a Architectural River tour -- going up and down the Chicago River for 90 minutes, gazing at all these amazing skyscrapers as the docent told us about who designed them. The idea of building a huge structure like these, and making them so beautiful, blows me away.

Then I think of the Internet. Could you imagine trying to describe Google and Internet Explorer and Myspace.com to a person in the 1960's? Today you and I can get on Google, type in a name or book title or subject and within 2 to 3 seconds up pops the information you want.

It really is amazing what man can do. However, as I read an excerpt from the book of Job this morning, I was struck with the majesty and power of God. It reminded of a sermon that Mike Cope preached two weeks ago. It was about acknowledging that God is God...and we aren't. And when we just can't figure out what's going on in our life and maybe even be questioning the Lord (as Job did amidst all his trials) the Lord almighty said to Job and says to us:

Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'? Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the
mind ? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens? -- Job. 38:33-37

When I start thinking of how amazing man is, I am then humbled by these words of the Lord Almighty. He was the One who made men and women -- and gave them all this ability to create and invent. Brilliant scientists with millions of dollars at their disposal take several years to make one robot for visitors at Disneyland to gaze at. And yet the Lord took some dirt from the earth and blew His breath into it and made man. And then created a woman. And He gave them the ability to procreate.

What if you and I were able to make a machine that could in turn create things like a laptop computer or an artificial heart or a space shuttle or the ability to make blogs? No way. But the Lord Almighty can...and did.

As I finished pondering and praying over these words of the Lord, I thought, "In all of His power and majesty and glory, God became a person like us." As Philippians 2 in The Message says:

"he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!...He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death -- and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything , ever, so that all created beings...will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ..."

When I ponder the awesome power of the Lord our God, and then reflect upon His amazing love and humility displayed at the cross, how can I not but praise Him and bow before Him, before His majesty.

He takes my breath away as I consider Who He is and what He has done in Christ. He is far more amazing than any inventor, artist or engineer -- even those who made the robot at Disneyland.

Jim