Faith & Insight: God up close

We need only look up to enjoy one of the most astounding treats in Northern Nevada. While Montana claims the title for the greatest heavenly expanse, ours is hard to equal. Views of the Milky Way have been breathtaking throughout the summer, and the winter promises equally dazzling views of star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies visible simply with a pair of binoculars.

Three millennia ago, King David wrote of the message broadcast through the skies:

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech; they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

We need only look up to know that this magnificent creation speaks of a creator. As spectators to his handiwork, we all feel minuscule; however, David declares that the living God desires a relationship with each of us. While creation speaks wordlessly, God has declared himself to us through his word, the Bible. God’s word is powerful: through it, he can renew our lives, give us wisdom when we need it, and bring joy to our hearts (vv. 7-8). God’s personal communication with us is priceless:

“They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the honeycomb.” (V 10)

Just as the skies contrast God’s greatness with our relative smallness, so his word places his goodness and holiness against our selfishness and moral frailty. When we try to keep God’s commands, we all fail miserably. And that’s the predictable result that leads us closer to a relationship with God he so desires for us. The apostle Paul wrote, “through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20b). We realize, by our failures, that only God can make us right with himself. And that’s exactly what he has provided, in a manner more humbling than a glimpse at our galaxy.

To make relationship with him possible, almighty God chose to become a man— Jesus Christ. Jesus kept God’s commands in our stead, then offered his life as the perfect substitute for ours through his death on the cross. Faith in the risen Lord Jesus moves us from spiritual death to life: a relationship with the living God can begin.

But faith isn’t a “one and done” proposition: we’re to live our new lives in his strength. David concludes with how much we need God’s constant, personal guidance:

“But who can discern their own errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.” (Vv 12-13)

May the joy of walking with the living God through faith in Jesus overwhelm you daily.

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (V 14)

Don Baumann is a retired outreach pastor at Hilltop Community Church.