Standing at the bottom of the waterfall, I felt about as small as an ant. But it was one of the best feelings in the world, listening to the water crash to the rocks below, picking up brightly colored stones from the crystal clear water at the shore. And then our guide said something crazy. “You can jump through the waterfall if you want. Who wants to try?”
I was just fourteen and scared of my own shadow at times. This youth camp had been all about facing fears, and I’d foregone jumping off a 20-foot cliff the day before. But I wanted to try this. For once, I didn't want to give in to the fear and wanted to take the leap.
I did it with two of my other friends, and then three more times after that. It was exhilarating. And terrifying in the best way. I was small compared to the power of that rushing water. I was small in comparison to the God who created it.
For a few moments after we got done jumping through the waterfall, I sat on the shore and was in awe of God. He made such a beautiful place, a hidden retreat of sorts in the middle of the forest, and yet He loved me? I–who could have stopped breathing and it would make no different to the world turning round. Life would go on without me, and yet, He sees every hair on my head. Every fear. Every victory, small as it may seem. It was at that moment that I was overwhelmed with gratitude. God isn’t here for me, I’m here for Him.
How Big Is Your God?
1 Timothy 1:15-17 TPT
“I can testify that the Word is true and deserves to be received by all, for Jesus Christ came into the world to bring sinners back to life—even me, the worst sinner of all! Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of his Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in him for eternal life. Because of this my praises rise to the King of all the universe who is indestructible, invisible, and full of glory, the only God who is worthy of the highest honors throughout all of time and throughout the eternity of eternities! Amen!”
It’s good for us to feel small, because we can get so self-important. We all have our own opinions, our own “truth”. We have the arrogance to say, “Everything revolves around me!” But if I stopped breathing right now, it would have no impact on the world continuing to spin.
God is the only one worthy. He is infinite and glorious. How do we view God? Does He fit nicely in a cute little box we’ve made for Him, or are we able to admit that there are things we just can’t understand about Him and His decisions? Do we have a human-sized theology, or a God-sized theology?
Theology: The study of who God is
Is our theology based on who we want God to be, but who He actually is? We get our foundation for this from the Word. We want a God-sized theology, not a human-sized understanding of who God is! And the truth is, your theology can be skewed.
Saul used his theology to permit himself to kill people for God. He thought he was doing the right thing, putting down a “cult” and keeping the religion of his fathers pure. But he was persecuting Followers of the Way. He kept on with perseverance until he had an encounter with Jesus that changed him forever.
Do We Exist for God, or Does He Exist for Us?
To the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible…
We must submit our lives to the King of the Ages. He is the Ancient of Days.
Psalm 135:13
Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages…
God exists outside of this world, and He is in dominion over everything, not just the things that we can see, feel, hear, or touch. He is in dominion over the darkness, keeping it under subjection. He has dominion over all realms, over all time.
To the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God…
He is the only God. This section of the scripture establishes His position. There is no one beside Him. Satan and God are not “neck and neck”. We’re not waiting to see who comes out on top. He is the only One. And He is Lord of all.
God did not call us to a religion, He called you to have a relationship with Himself. All other religions are built to make a way to connect with a god. Christianity is God building a bridge so He can be with us. And that Bridge is named Jesus Christ!
God is a jealous God—this doesn’t mean He’s an insecure teenager who flies off the handle when we don’t choose Him. Instead, He grieves when we don’t choose Him because that separation hurts us. And it hurts His heart.
To the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
When we realize how small we are and how big God is, it creates this response to praise and worship Him. Not out of fear but out of humility and awe. The God of the universe does not need you, He wants you. Even with all your sins and flaws, He wants you. He desires to be with you.
Do you worship Him out of love or out of fear? Obedience is worship. It is biblical to obey God even when you don’t feel like it. It is biblical to obey Him out of duty. But it is not the strongest kind of obedience. Obedience out of love is the strongest kind of obedience. When you have a view of Jesus and what He did for you, when you have a revelation of Who He is and why He came–it changes everything.
Do you change when God convicts you of sin? Does it hurt your heart when that conviction comes because you know it hurt God’s heart, or just because you got caught? Is your theology based on your wants or in bringing glory to God?
All of these things determine your theology. So where do you land?
Eternity In Mind
You were created by God to bring glory to Him, not for your own selfish desires. You were created with eternity in mind. You were supposed to live forever. Our bodies die, but your spirit lives forever.
Ask yourself today: are you living for eternity or just for this temporal life?
Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Matthew 22:37-39
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Notice the word that comes last: “self”. First we love God, then we love people, and then we love ourselves. Do you look up and out? Or do you look in?
