Only God Is Great!

           God's "glory" is how we describe the sum effect of all of His attributes.  Grace, truth, goodness, mercy, justice, knowledge, power, eternality…all that He is.  Therefore, the glory of God is intrinsic, that is, it is as essential to God as light is to the sun, as blue is to the sky, as wet is to water.  You don't make the sun light; it is light.  You don't make the sky blue; it is blue.  You don't make water wet; it is wet.  In all of these cases, the attribute is intrinsic to the object. 
        In contrast, a man's glory is granted to him. If you take a king, take off all of his robes and crowns and give him only a rag to wear and leave him on the streets for a few weeks, when put next to a beggar you'll never know which is which.  Because there is no intrinsic glory. The only glory a king has is when you give him a crown and a robe and sit him on his throne. He has no intrinsic glory.  That's the point.  The only glory that men have is granted to them.  The glory that is God's is His in His essence.  You can't de-glorify God because glory is His nature.  You can't touch His glory.  It cannot be taken away. It cannot be added to. It's His being. It's who He is. Does this offend you or encourage you?
            Occasionally I watch a documentary concerning some special Bible event and, without exception, I will change the channel because of some derogatory remark that is made concerning the Bible. The latest was about Noah and the flood being a myth.  Now, that offended me.  Yes, we live in a world that is hostile against God which refuses to give Him credit or praise.  Too many want to take the credit for themselves.  And we can either succumb to their hostility against God or we can plan to be strong and courageous for God.
            In 1715, Louis XIV of France died. Louis, who called himself "the Great," was the monarch who made the infamous statement, "I am the State!"  His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was spectacular.  His body lay in a golden coffin.  To dramatize the deceased king's greatness, orders had been given that the cathedral should be very dimly lighted, with only one special candle set above his coffin.  Thousands waited in hushed silence.  Then Bishop Massilon began to speak.  Slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle, saying, "ONLY GOD IS GREAT!" 
            "To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one fails" (Isaiah 40:25-26).  Wherefore, bless the name of God for ever and ever, because wisdom and might are His: and He changes times and seasons: He removes kings and sets up kings: He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with Him.  For more info you can visit us at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com.

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