Watching The Passing Show

The Psalmist has said, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." (Psalm 8:1) All of us have reserved seats somewhere in life's universe to watch the passing show. But sadly enough, we are not all watching the same thing.

For some, the emphasis is on what man is doing. For others, it is with awe that they look upon that which God is doing!

Small wonder, however, when we are engrossed in a 110 hour wakeful week with things of the world, and a possible two or more hours with worship of God, that the secular interests should become 100% more real to us than the things of the Spirit. And thus it is that when we do come to worship, we fail to "see the Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up", (Is.6:1) as did the prophet Isaiah so many years ago.

We have been looking at the Box Office score on Mankind, and we have missed the splendor of the Eternal. True worship is designed to sharpen spiritual vision and insights. In the Psalms, the emphasis is not "look at me, and on my problems," but rather,"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth."(Ps. 8:1) and "When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him?" (Ps. 8:3ff) Or again, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"(Ps. 27:1)

In the Bible, God steals the show! In our worship, the same thing should happen. Isaiah had the experience of God in the temple. (Is. 8) Zechariah, father of John the Baptist went into the synagogue and on the right side of the altar of incense, he saw an angel of the Lord. (Luke 1:11)

The Bible and the Psalmist did well to direct our gaze upon the Lord. Mankind will disappoint and betray us, but God will never forsake us. The glory of man is like a flickering candle, but the splendor of God is like the sun.

And so as we enter our churches, the center aisle becomes symbol of the road of life upon which the person of earth gets access to the Lord of Heaven. On one side stands the lectern from which the Word of God is read, and on the other side is the pulpit from which the Way of life is interpreted and explained. It is not to be a book review, or a lecture. It is not to be comedy or entertainment. But again and again, we are to be told, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Ps.46:1) "Come, behold the works of the Lord."(Ps.46:8) "See his wonders in the deep!"(Ps. 107:24)

God is here...in this holy place of worship. His splendor fills this place. He is above us, around us, yea, within us.

Unfortunately, many are only casual observers of the Eternal and His mighty works. They take eternal things for granted and turn to watch the antics of mankind. Perhaps it is time to switch channels! The big show is what is going on between God and His world. And when you really become an avid fan of Eternal splendors and see what God is doing, you too will say, "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

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