OUR GOD IS . . .
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18

FOCUS: During VBS we learned that ours is a wonderful, incredible, amazing, magnificent and awesome God.

Over the past week our VBS cadets have been on a great adventure into outer space and into the heart of God’s word as they considered both the marvelous and mysterious world of God’s created universe and the mysterious and marvelous nature of God’s presence in our lives. It was a fun and challenging journey which reminded us all of both the immensity of God’s creation and the depth of God’s grace and love. Before we put the starship back in its hanger, I wanted to share with you the stories we encountered this week.

On Monday we started out at the beginning as we considered the creation story, a story filled with wonder. It all begins with nothing. We were reminded that before there was an earth, before there were any animals, any plants, any mountains any stars, any galaxies, any black holes, there was God. It is a truly mind boggling notion, the idea that everything which exists is a product of the mind of God.

Most wonderful of all is the affirmation we find in the story of the truth that of all the things God envisioned and brought into being, we are uniquely loved, embraced and empowered by God. We are reminded of the wonderful truth that not only is God especially fond of us, the human race, but God also seeks to have a personal relationship with us, to be companions, sojourners together. The creation story reveals the truth that God is much more than a disinterested creator. We discover as we read this story, God’s compassionate love and concern for each one of us. Our God is wonderful

You may have noticed that we had a very special companion on our journey together, a green gorilla. Green was one of the themes of our time together. We were reminded as we ended our mission each day of the call to be good stewards of the earth, to responsibly care for God’s wonderful creation. The creation story teaches that we are given dominion, not so that we might exploit God’s wonderful creation, but that we might care for it. On Monday our green idea was to save energy by using efficient bulbs and by turning off lights we don’t need.

On Tuesday we traveled to Mount Horeb with the prophet Elijah. We visited this scripture just a couple of weeks ago ourselves during Sunday worship. You may remember how Elijah had been having a really bad few days, a really bad few months actually. He had spoken God’s truth to the king, knowing full well that the king would not be very receptive to the message, which was the bad news that there was to be a famine in the land. Later, in a display of God’s power Elijah had defeated the prophets of the idol which was worshipped by the queen. It was bad enough that he had angered the king, but now he had the queen out to get him as well so he had run out into the wilderness to avoid the wrath of the royals. There he was visited by one of God’s angels and strengthened for a lengthy journey up onto the mountain.

Once on that mountain, while hiding out in a cave, another angel came and told Elijah that God was soon to visit him. So Elijah went out and stood on the edge of the mountain and waited. It was there that God spoke to the prophet, not in any spectacular way, not in lightening, not in thunder, not in fire, not in an earthquake. It was in a still small voice, in a quiet moment that Elijah encountered the God of Genesis, the creator of the universe. In that quiet moment God came to him and as is most often the case when God comes, God gave Elijah a task to complete, a job to do. How incredible, the God who created the universe from nothing comes to speak to us when we are most in need of a word of encouragement..

On Tuesday we learned that sometimes we have to listen very closely if we are too understand what God is saying to us. Like Elijah we may hear God most certainly in quiet moments of reflection. We were reminded by Elijah’s story that we all need to make time to listen for the voice of God, the God who promised to come to us all. We all need to set aside time to think about God and about matters of God’s kingdom. And when we do we will realize that our God is incredible.

Tuesday we continued to be reminded of the calling which is ours to be good stewards of the creation over which God has given us dominion. Galileo reminded us of the importance of reusing those things which can be reused, of sharing with others things we might consider tossing out which still have useable life and suggested that before we just toss stuff we might consider whether we can find some alternative use for it. As those gifted by a wonderful, incredible God with so much we all should be challenged to make our resources last for a long, long time. 

On Wednesday our Bible adventure took us to Sycar, a city in the province of Samaria a state  hated by the Jews. It was quite unusual that Jesus was even in Samaria for most good Jews would go out of their way on any journey to avoid the area. Here at the local well near Sycar we witness an amazing encounter. It is amazing on a number of accounts. You may remember the story. As he was there by the well Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. What to us sounds like an unremarkable request was instead very remarkable, even amazing. To ask for something from another in that day was to acknowledge and affirm them. So here we find Jesus affirming not only one most of his Hebrew brothers would have considered unworthy of acknowledgement simply because of their race, he was interacting with a woman who was not his wife, both a religious no no and a social blunder in the eyes of faithful Jews.

The woman was shocked to be approached by this Jewish traveler. Knowing how the Jews felt about both women and Samaritans she asked how it was that he came to approach her. In response Jesus told her that if she knew who he was and what God had to offer she would ask him for living water, that is the gift of God’s salvation and constant presence. He told her that if she drank of that water she would ne never be thirsty again. Understandably she responded quickly, “Give it to me!”

Jesus didn’t reply directly to her request but slyly called upon her to bring her husband. “I’m not married.” she replied. “You’ve got that right!” Jesus said. “But you have been married five times, and you are currently living with one who is not your husband.” With that the Samaritan woman was convinced that Jesus was someone special. She assumed he was a prophet. But Jesus explained to her that he was more than a prophet, that he was the long awaited messiah. So the woman went back into town, so amazed that she left her water jug by the well, and told everyone she saw about Jesus. The people flocked out to witness this Jesus first hand. Many came to faith simply because of the encounter the women shared with them, others were converted as they heard him speak, perhaps telling them, as he had told the woman, of the dirty little details of their lives.

An amazing encounter, this one at the well. Amazing because it is a clear reminder that in God’s eyes there are no outsiders, everyone is equally important to God.  Amazing because it illustrates God’s omniscience, God’s unlimited knowledge. We often seek to live as if this divine trait were a myth. Think about it. Would we act the way we do sometimes, would we go the places we go sometimes, would we say the things we say sometimes if Jesus were standing right beside us? Of course not. But you see there is the rub. In a very real way he is, for God knows all. So next time you look around to see who is watching before you do something, next time you weigh the company you are in before telling the joke or repeating the gossip, remember the woman at the well, and consider the notion that God knows everything about you, every habit, every thought, every word you speak. Such a recognition changed a Samaritan woman’s life and it just might transform yours because our God is amazing.

Having thought about water, both literal and figurative, on Wednesday Galileo thought it would be good for our green challenge to be about water as well. Water is something we all take for granted. We expect to simply turn on the spigot and have as much as we like. Yet many scientists believe that the next significant shortage globally will be of water. So I encourage you as did our gorilla friend this week to do the little things which can make a big difference. Take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing your teeth and only water lawns and plants when absolutely necessary. I challenge you to make a commitment to be good stewards of God’s great gift of water.

As we continued our journey through space in our times together in the sanctuary, on Thursday during story time we visited Jericho back on earth and witnessed a magnificent faith encounter. Jesus and the disciples were traveling to Jerusalem. As they passed through Jericho they had drawn a crowd. Some were walking with them, others lined the streets. Sitting by the side of the road where he always sat hoping for some much needed assistance from passersby, a blind man realized that something out of the ordinary was happening. He must have heard of Jesus and must have had faith in the one about whom he had heard. Immediately he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David”. The very fact that he used this title indicates a significant level of understanding.  “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”

 The crowds did what crowds tend to do, they tried to shield the celebrity from the one in their midst they considered an embarrassment. Here was this blind beggar calling out to Jesus as he passed by. How dare he be so bold. “Shut up!” they cried. But the fellow was only emboldened by their taunts. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” he cried out again, raising his voice to be sure to be heard over the protestations of the crowd. Jesus stopped in his tracks, turned to some in the crowd around the man and ordered them to bring him over. The encounter was simple and straightforward. Jesus asked, “What is it you want me to do for you?”  Again the answer indicates that this was a man that understood who Jesus was for he addressed him as lord. “Lord, let me see again.”  “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” Immediately the beggar could see and he began to follow Jesus. And the once skeptical crowd began to praise God.

As the blind man already knew, as the crowds came to understand, our God is magnificent. Having come to recognize God’s magnificence, we are called to praise God and to follow as did the blind man. God can work wonders in our lives. On occasion the miracles of God are spectacular, as was the case on the road to Jericho. But for most of us they will be less dramatic, but no less transformational. God may not grant us physical healing, but in every case, if we will allow it, God will grant us vision because our God is magnificent.

Once again on Thursday we were challenged by Galileo to be more aware of ways we can care for God’s wonderful creation. You don’t have to look very far anywhere you go to find litter. We find it in the church yard, I find it in my driveway, and it is along all our highways. Why? Because people have carelessly tossed stuff out of their windows or worse, have dumped stuff beside the road. So our green idea for our next to last time together was not only to be conscious of what we do with our trash, but also to be willing to pick up litter when we see it.

On our last day in space we returned to earth for a little while to stand on the road to Emmaus and to remember the awesome encounter two of Jesus followers had there on that first Easter. As the two were walking mournfully down the road they were talking about all that had occurred over the past week. They were recalling the way Jesus had been railroaded through the legal system. Fresh on their minds was the horror of the crucifixion. Then there was the puzzling matter of the empty tomb. The two were confused to say the least, confused and at loose ends. As they walked along they were joined by one they thought to be a stranger. As was his habit, Jesus toyed with the two in order to help them see God’s truth. What are you guys talking about?” “Are you the only one who doesn’t know what happened this weekend?” “What things?” asked Jesus. Then the two told him everything that had happened over the past few days.

Jesus then scolded the two, reminded them that everything that had happened had been foretold. He pointed out to them all the ways that he had fulfilled Old Testament scripture. As the three approached Emmaus Jesus, still perceived as an odd stranger, walked ahead as if to continue on his journey somewhere else. But the two had been intrigued by the conversation along the way and implored Jesus to stay and spend the night. It was as they sat at table that the full truth became apparent. When Jesus blessed the bread and broke the truth was made plain to the two. His presence was unmistakable and they were convinced that Jesus had been resurrected.

It was an awesome conclusion, one which changed everything for the two and for all disciples for all time. Jesus has risen and offers all the gift of eternal salvation now and forever and the promise of an abundant life here on earth. Jesus still comes to those who are not expecting him and he often comes when we least expect him and in the most unlikely places. But when he does, if we are open to his coming we will surely be blessed, because our God is awesome.

Galileo offered us a final green idea as we closed our time together on Friday. It was the call to recycle. Landfills are overrun with recyclable stuff which has been simply tossed away, plastic, paper, cardboard, glass. We love the convenience of disposable everything, but give little thought to the impact our consumption has on this beautiful planet which God created and then let us use for a season. Fortunately recycling is more in fashion now than ever. But many of us recycle next to nothing. After all, we argue, it is inconvenient and they don’t pick up recycling in Daleville. That is true but there are places you can take it in Dothan and perhaps other towns as well, and it is the right thing to do.

It has been a good week. We have considered our responsibility as stewards, as those entrusted with the care of our home planet. We have considered the nature of the God who put all the stars in the sky and who brought us into being. We have been reminded that our God is wonderful, incredible, amazing, magnificent and awesome. And on each mission during the week we were encouraged to praise God. For your sake and for the sake of the kingdom of God may we go forth from this place today encouraged and challenged to praise God and to honor God as we serve others in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN