When the mighty fall

Today: Ezekiel 25-27

It is always a shocking thing when something or someone you believed to be strong--fails. And fails miserably.

In today's chapters, God talked about various cities and nations that disregarded Him. At the end of the passage, this description of Tyre stood out to me:

"'As you crisscrossed the seas with your products,

you satisfied many peoples.

Your worldwide trade

made earth's kings rich.

And now you're battered to bits by the waves,

sunk to the bottom

of the sea,

And everything you've bought and sold

has sunk to the bottom with you.

Everyone on shore looks on in terror.

The hair of kings stands on end,

their faces drawn and haggard!

The buyers and sellers of the world

throw up their hands:

This horror can't happen!

Oh, this has happened!'"

It's amazing how often we think things are invincible. Whether it's a celebrity, a church leader, a company, a nation--often we put things and people on pedestals they were never meant to stand on. And then we're surprised when they fall.

In this excerpt, Tyre is described as a rich place. And when it sinks, observers are terrified. They think it's horrifying.

Why? It's not like the observers were part of Tyre's demise--they just observed it. Why would it be horrifying to them?

I think part of the answer is because when the things people consider mighty fall, it completely shakes up their thinking and their quicksand-like foundations. The truth? Things and people are not invincible--people make mistakes, things disappear, people die, and things lose value.

That might sound morbid and depressing, but I'm mainly trying to say that you can't put your faith, hope and identity in people or things.

On the other hand, God is invincible, all-powerful, loving and continually faithful. He is mighty. And He never falls. Never.

Tomorrow: Ezekiel 28-30

Beauty and the might

Today: Psalm 96-102

I may be a little (or a lot!) biased--but I think that I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Today was no exception. It was a sunny spring today and the Emerald City of Seattle and nearby Whidbey Island was literally sparkling. I saw green trees, a bald eagle, deer, mountains and the ocean. It was a, "Wow--I can't believe I get to be here and see these things and believe in a God who made them all!"

For me, those moments come often when I'm at the ocean. It's incredible to walk barefoot on the beach and see tiny tiny sea creatures and on the opposite side of the spectrum, to see the effects of powerful tides. The ocean is a beautiful picture of God's power at work.

When I read today's passage, I was reminded of God's power and beauty. Take a look:

God made the heavens—

Royal splendor radiates from him,

A powerful beauty sets him apart.

Bravo, God, Bravo!

Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!

In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

Bring gifts and celebrate,

Bow before the beauty of God,

Then to your knees—everyone worship!

Get out the message—God Rules!

He put the world on a firm foundation;

He treats everyone fair and square.

Let's hear it from Sky,

With Earth joining in,

And a huge round of applause from Sea.

Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,

Animals, come dance,

Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

An extravaganza before God as he comes,

As he comes to set everything right on earth,

Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

Tomorrow: Psalm 103-105

The Mighty & the Marvelous

(Originally written November 11)

Today: Revelation 13-16

I’m in Orlando, Florida tonight getting ready to go to Universal Studios in the morning. Universal Studios has a whole section dedicated to Marvel superheroes (I’ve already been told to go on the Incredible Hulk rollercoaster and by the time this is posted, I’ll have finished it!).
I didn’t really read comics as a kid and I haven’t seen all of the movies, but I know that superheroes are usually good at heart and strong.

Superheroes use their powers to fight for what’s right…perhaps unlike the things and people we meet in the “real world.” In life, we see lots of Mighty & Mediocre—people, groups or institutions that do not recognize the potential they have. The Mighty & Mediocre settle for average, not using the power that they’ve been given. On the other end of the spectrum, there are people and institutions who are Mighty & Mad (in the crazy, manic sense). They’re strong, but use their strength in the wrong way or for the wrong cause.

It’s a good thing that, like a superhero, God is Mighty & Marvelous. Take a look at a portion of today’s passage:

Mighty your acts and marvelous, O God,
the Sovereign Strong!
Righteous your ways and true,
King of the nations!
Who can fail to fear you, God,
give glory to your Name?
Because you and you only are holy,
all nations will come and worship you,
because they see your judgments are right.

Tomorrow: Revelation 17-19