Awesome God
A sermon by Currie Burris
Genesis 1:1-2:4a Matthew 28
May 24, 2005
A few years ago I was in
About an hour down the road, while it was still very dark, our bus pulled over on the side of the road. We were in the middle of nowhere. No sign of a village or city any where in the distance. The landscape was broad and flat, a semi-desert, no moon, no clouds in the sky—totally dark.
We were instructed to get out of the bus, and then to look up. There before us was the most incredible sight, billions of stars, strewn across the sky in an amazing array. Without the diffusing effects of city or vehicle lights, the sky was crystal clear. I saw the Milky Way, all the stars closest to us that make up our galaxy. I saw it clearer and more distinct than I had ever seen in my life. No blurring, no obstructions, just a mass of stars, clearly spread from one horizon to the other. Then we saw the “Southern Cross” constellation, four stars which make a cross shape, seen only in the southern hemisphere, which have guided sailors and navigators in the south for centuries, like the North star has guided sailors in the north.
From the astronomers who have looked deep into the skies with powerful microscopes, we have learned that many of the stars that we see are actually full galaxies themselves, clusters of millions of stars blended together as one. Some of the lights we see are vast nebulae—stars, gasses, energy and matter, multicolored in swirling forms as large as our solar system itself. There are super novae, exploding stars, black holes, stars that have become so massive that their gravity prevents even light from escaping. The universe is ever expanding, from its point of creation, the “Big Bang,” faster and faster until the end.
Looking out into the heavens, it was all there before me. I was immersed in God’s incredible, indescribable creation. There is only one word: awesome. I was filled with awe.
Years before our family took a long trip across the country, the family road
vacation – kids in the back of the minivan, motels, campgrounds, rest stops,
until finally we stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon in
Just yesterday, the late spring rain has stopped. The sun is coming out behind the clouds. I look out the living room window, and see a rare and beautiful sight: a hummingbird, no larger than my thumb, its wings fluttering so far fast all I see is a blur, yet it hardly moves, hovering over a rose blossom. Iridescent feathers, red and green, its long, thin beak dips into the flower to gather nectar. Shimmering, fragile beauty. There is only one word: awesome.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be . . . and there was . . . God saw that it was good”
Last Sunday, nine young people stood before the congregation. They had been studying for weeks. They learned the creed of the church; they studied the sacraments, the laws of God, the ways of the church, and the language of prayer. Despite their fears, and nervousness, their anxiety and uncertainty, they confessed their faith. They declared to the world their commitment to God in Christ. They confessed their faith in the Jesus Christ.
How did this happen? The voice of God has spoken to each of them. The Spirit of God has surrounded them from their birth, loving, nurturing, guiding, healing, calling to them everyday. The Spirit gave voice to their confession and anointed them. In witness to this Pentecostal power, there is only one word: awesome.
The congregation, over 300 voices strong, sing out, full voice, without reservation, without second thought, without caution, but with joyous affirmation, “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name. Crown him, crown him, crown him Lord of all.” The swirling wind of the Spirit blows through the room. We are all lifted, we are all renewed, we are all baptized. In the presence of this irresistible power of the Spirit of God, the only word is awesome.
Eight of the faithful gather around the hospital bed. The word has come from the doctor: cancer, inoperable, only days left. Hands held, a circle of prayer, prayers for the brave sister in the bed, prayers for the family, the brother, the child, the mom, the dad. The words sung, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder . . .How great Thou art, how great thou art.” And then again another chorus “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty, all thy works shall praise your name in earth and sky and sea. . .”
Words lifted up to God, cries unto our maker, our redeemer and sustainer. The Spirit of God fills the room and touches all with tongues of fire, tongues of grace, tongues of love.
Standing back from this gathering the Spirit, the only word is: awesome.
He stepped out into our lives. He became a human being, just like us. He was flesh and bone, hair and sweat. He laughed, he cried, he worked, he spoke, he sang, he prayed. He taught us the ways of love. He taught us the way of truth. He gave us the way of healing. He showed us the way to God. He showed us the face of God.
He lived, he loved, he suffered the weight of evil, he bore the wounds of our affliction, he carried the weight of sin and he died. But he is risen. He is alive and he is with us always, even until the end of time.
Standing in the presence of such love, touched by the light of such grace, there is only one word: awesome.
Our God is an awesome God, always creating, always redeeming, always loving, always speaking, always reaching out, always here, always liberating, always sustaining, always healing, making all things new.
Our God is an awesome God. Infinite turns of color, shape, energy and light. Unending presence, speaking, sharing, lifting comforting, challenging, changing. God with us, Emmanuel, loving, redeeming, living, breathing, suffering, living forever. Eternal Lord, God, three-in-one. Awesome. Amen.