Many years ago, after preaching at a church in Edinburgh, I was standing at the door speaking to people as they left and got into a conversation with a young mum who had her son with her. The wee boy who was, I guess, aged about 4 or 5, was literally standing on my toes and staring my kneecaps!
As I spoke to his mother I realised that he was slowly lifting his eyes up my body – I am about 6′ 3″ tall – until he reached the top of my head and, as he nearly fell backwards he exclaimed, “Wow” Isn’t he big!” And, of course, to someone his size I must have appeared almost Goliath like.
As I travelled home that evening I reflected on that child’s wonder and asked myself, ‘When did I last, like a small child, stand in awe and wonder before my heavenly Father and exclaim, ‘Wow! Isn’t he big!”
It would do us – and him – much good – if from time to time we stood and lifted up our eyes to the stars, or gazed at the beauty of the world around us, and declared, “Wow! Isn’t my God great!”
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in –
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
(Carl Boberg)
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
(Cecil F Alexander)
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
(Psalm 8:9)