OUR AWESOME GOD

I was thinking the other day of a word which we seemed to have diminished over time, probably from overuse, or casual use without considering what the word truly means. The word is “awesome.” Most of us know the word, but we just don’t really have a clue about its magnitude. We use the word as a label, like we would use a word to mean “wow” or “great” or anything that is superior. We could use it to describe my friend Bill Braden’s cookies. Bill is an “awesome” cookie maker!

But, when we come into the presence of our Awesome God the description of our worship should goes way beyond great cookies. Too often, worship can become as interesting as the vanilla Bill uses in his cookies, when we should be drawn into the wonder of worship that is far from vanilla,…it should be worship that shouts out to God, “WOW, GOD! YOU ARE INDEED AWESOME!” Because, God is indeed… AWESOME! 

When we encounter the only One who is truly awesome...we are left in wonder. Sometimes we may be left speechless…where we no longer have a word left that belongs to us…all our words belong to Him and Him alone.  Maybe speechless is the best way to approach God’s awesomeness. I mean, everything that is God is awesome and everything that is awesome is God. I’m beginning to thing it is a good idea that we make it a rule to not use “awesome” anymore for anyone or anything, unless we are referring to God. To call anything else “awesome” is a joke. Because, the real kind of awesome that God brings sends shivers up your spine.

Awesome means “producing AWE.” Look it up...you won’t find any warm, soft synonyms for awe. They are all serious and gripping words. When you are gripped by God’s greatness,....when you are seized by His awesomeness,…it is like a river of joy that flows right through the very center of your being. You know beyond any doubt that you were created for Him for this moment in time. God’s awesomeness takes you to your knees in complete and total reverence. His awesomeness brings you to worship without being self-conscious.

The prophet Isaiah knew all about God’s awesomeness. He proclaimed it without any apology to a very apathetic and aggressively wicked people. Even with the limitations of language, the Holy Spirit gave Isaiah the greatest description of God’s awesomeness ever written. In Isaiah 40:10-11, the prophet begins his description of God with what sounds like a contradiction. He says in verse 10: “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.”  And then in verse 11, he says “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”

Most people know either the God of verse 10,…or, the God of verse 11. However, both of them are true....both are powerful....and, both of them are awesome. The verse 10 God, is the God who rolls up His sleeve, and bears His powerful arm, and slams it on the table and says, “C’mon people....get it together. Live right....live holy…live life in the fullness I created you to live.” I am sure many or most of us have experienced that strong arm of God.

But, if that is the only arm of God you know, then I would encourage you to be gripped by His other arm that is described in verse 11. Here we see God as a shepherd, scooping up His lambs and carrying them close to Him. This is our awesome God who provides special treatment for our special needs. There are times our shepherd says, “This one is hurting. Careful of her wounds. We’re going to have to carry her for a while.” This tender arm of God reminds us of His unique and personal care for us. This is the arm of God that we feel as He gently holds us close to His bosom....comforting us....healing us... and strengthening us.

God has two arms....One arm is mighty and powerful, demanding holiness and righteousness,…The other arm tenderly cares for the weak and wounded. Almighty... yet tender....He truly is AWESOME!