“For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:3 (NLT)
I have no idea how many people would agree with Psalm 95:3. We know that one day every knee will bow in acknowledgment, but how many people live their lives today with the thought of God’s greatness foremost in their minds? While we can’t speak for others, we can speak for ourselves, shouting and singing about our great God.
The percentage of Christians who would agree with the declaration “The Lord is a great God” is probably high, but what does it really mean to us, and in what ways does it affect our outlook on life? It is one thing to have an intellectual understanding that acknowledges the greatness of our God, but it is something infinitely greater when that understanding permeates our thoughts and actions. What makes God great, and what should it mean to us?
God Is Good
We cannot even begin to scratch the surface of the reasons why God is great, but here are five essential ones. First, God is a great God because He is good. It is vital for us to understand that God only has the best intentions for us whatever he does, whether it is blessing or correction, and He does it for our good. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
Moses wanted to see God’s glory. And he did, but it might not have been what he was expecting. Moses asked to see God’s glory, and God said, “I will cause all of my goodness to pass in front of you.” When we come face-to-face with the goodness of God, we can move forward into victory. We do not live according to news reports, social media, or even what our friends say about us. We are to live our lives in view of the goodness of God.
God Is the Creator
God is great because He is the creator of all things. Our planet and sun reside in the Milky Way galaxy. But the Milky Way galaxy isn’t anywhere near as big as the universe. There are billions of other galaxies in the universe. And yet, filled with billions of galaxies, the universe is almost totally empty. The distances from one galaxy to another are beyond our imagination.
The creator of this universe is God, who spoke it into existence with His Word. He is present everywhere in this universe and beyond. He holds it all together with His mighty power. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. The Psalmist declared: Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Psalm 150:2 (NLT)
God Never Changes
God is great because He never changes. How many things can we count on? There are precious few things in this life that we can count on staying constant and dependable. Everything all around us is in continual flux. Our health, our jobs, and just about everything else can change in a moment, but how comforting it is to rely upon a God who stays the same.
God declares, “I the Lord do not change.” Malachi 3:6 He doesn’t have one set of standards for us today and another tomorrow. He doesn’t change the rules in the middle of the game. He is great because he never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
God Is Dependable
God is great because He is dependable. Because God is unchangeable, he is also trustworthy. We do not have to be concerned that he would never leave, fail, or change his promises to us in any way. God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
At the end of Joshua’s life, he reminded the people that everything God had promised to them had come to pass. (Joshua 23:14). Not one time had he failed them, and therefore because He had not failed them in the past, they could count on Him in the future. This faithfulness and consistency is why we can count on Him for the future because He has never failed in the past. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Luke 21:33
God Offers Salvation
God is a great God because of His great salvation. Perhaps, it is His provision for our salvation that most greatly exemplifies the greatness of God. We should remember that salvation was not a response to an unanticipated situation because our salvation was part of God’s plan from the beginning. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Because the Lord is a great God, we can know that He loves us. “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 (NLT) Because the Lord is a great God, we have greater access to Him. “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” Ephesians 3:12 (NLT) Finally, we have a responsibility to declare the greatness of God to others because everyone needs to know that there is a great God in heaven who loves them and who has provided a way of salvation.
God Is Great
It would not take much effort to find many more reasons for God’s greatness, but these five are a good start. God’s goodness is unsurpassed by anyone or anything. We must never stop marveling at the wonder of God’s creation. God never changes, and that makes him dependable, reliable, and trustworthy. In a word, great! Finally, he offers the only way of salvation. He forgives our sins and welcomes us into his family. There is no escape for anyone who ignores or neglects this great salvation.
Steve Ekeroth
Photo: Kjosfossen Falls, Norway by Steve Ekeroth