O Lord, How Great are Thy Works
Text: Psalm 92:1-15
Consider the words in verse five: “How great are Thy works, O Lord!” In hearing this, one might be reminded of the saying: You can tell more about a person by what he does than by what others say about him or even by what he says!
So it is with God. You can gain insight into His very nature, His personality by looking at the great works of the Almighty God. So, consider the works of the Lord and how very great they are. Consider what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do in the future.
Considering what God has done; think first the mighty work of creation (Gen 1:1)! God is not the product of the imagination of an evolving man. Rather, God is the ultimate Cause. He made the world and everything therein (2 Kings 19:15; Neh 9:6; Ps 102:25; Ps 33:6-8).
Again the truth of creation is confirmed in the New Testament (John 1:1-3, 14). In the act of creating, God has demonstrated his wisdom, his understanding and his power (Prov 3:19; Jer 10:12). God, the Creator is a part of the gospel message (Acts 17:24). So His Creativeness must not be separated from God, the Son (Eph 3:9; Col 1:13-16); Rev 4:11) I cannot reject the creation account and call myself a follower of Jesus Christ. Can I prove the creation? No! Because it is a matter of faith (Heb 11:3, 6).
Secondly, God made man in his image (Gen 1:27) including every part of human anatomy (Prov 20:1). Most of all He has given each of us a living spirit, made in His own image (Zech 12:1). So we are the offspring of God (Acts 17:25-28), and each one of us is accountable to his own personal creator for how he lives his life.
Thirdly, God in His love for man, made provision for the eternal salvation of man (John 3:16; Rom 5:8; 8:32). Therefore the greatest of God’s gifts has been the gift of His Son (Eph 2:8-10). This is the love of God that He has made every provision for the salvation of men (1 Tim 2:3-4; 1 John 4:9-10).
Let us see God in the light of what He has done...as the creator...as the maker of man in his image... and as the one who has made the provision for man’s eternal salvation. Then, let us join the Psalmist in the words: “O Lord, how great are Thy works.”
Again, we need to consider the mighty works of God which He is doing for us right now! Consider, first, that by God’s power, He presently continues to sustain His creation. And he sustains me (Ps 3:5)! How did you get through last night? How do we come to have the things we need materially; i.e., food, clothing, and shelter. Why are we so anxious about such things (Matt 6:28-31). Does not God make provision even for the goodness of the weather (Matt 5:45)? In Him we live and move and exist (Acts 17:28)! God provides my every need! Do I cast my anxieties on Him (1 Pet 5:7).
God cares! He even cares whether I am saved or lost eternally (2 Pet 3:9). This is why His word tells us how to be saved (Acts 2:38)!
Secondly, God blesses His children with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Matt 7:11). All spiritual blessings are found in Christ (Eph 1:3)! Therefore, I must be “in Christ” to receive the blessings; because that is exactly the place where God has placed those blessings (Gal 3:27). That is why we were baptized into Christ (Col 2:12)! All the spiritual blessings being with the remission of sins (Mark 16:16).
Finally, consider what God will do in the future.
First, God will, one day, destroy that creation which he has made (Isa 34:4; Heb 1:10-12). One that last day, God will destroy the heavens and the earth with intense heat (2 Pet 3:5-1).
Do not be deceived! Do not imagine that God intends this decaying universe to be permanent. Just because He one time created it. Just as He created it with His word; so by His word, He will just as surely destroy it all.
But on that day, God will give an eternal inheritance to the righteous. Secondly, He will reward his own (Matt 16:27). He has promised the righteous a far better place than anything on this earth (John 14:1-3). This is why we persevere in the doing of good (Rom 2:7).
So we look forward to the second coming of Christ (Col 3:4). Paul described it as an awarded crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:6-8). So we have a living hope to obtain an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:3-4).
Of all the provisions of God; the creation, the provisions of life, the blessings in Christ Jesus., we still have not yet been given the greatest gift of all -- the gift to the righteous, eternal life!
So, we must observe that God will, in the future, punish the wicked for their deeds (Matt 13:40-42; 25:41, 46). In fact the condemnation of the unforgiven is a major part of the gospel message. How can there be a salvation if there were nothing of significance from which one would want salvation. So we preach about the “judgment to come” (Acts 24:24-25).
Since the judgement to come is also gospel, we must be reminded of our own accountability before God (Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10-11). We need to be terrified by the thought of falling into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:30-31).
In conclusion...
(1) Do you know what God has done for you? Do you appreciate it and praise Him for it?
(2) Are you taking the fullest advantage of what He is doing now? Have you been obedient to the gospel plan of salvation?
(3) And, are you ready for what God will do? Are you ready for the judgement day?
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