ROMANS 11:33-36: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” NLT

OBSERVATION: How great is our God? How majestic are His ways? How unsearchable are His mercies? How unfathomable is His grace?

In the culture of the church today, do we still ask these questions? Do we have a sense of holy reverence for our Creator? Or have we brought God down to our own level? Do we see Him as just one of the gang? Do we approach Him as we do our next-door neighbor or someone we meet at our church?

Many have seen pictures of the great cathedrals in Europe. When I was in Germany on a business trip, I had the chance to visit one of them. When I walked into the sanctuary, the first thing I noticed was the extremely high ceilings, as if they were reaching up into the heavens. As I stood there, I felt small. There was a sense of awe as I looked at the paintings on the ceilings and the stained glass windows that told the story of the Gospel.

Fast-forward to most any new church in America. Most of our churches look like any local business complex. The interiors are modern and focused on creating a mood that spotlights the platform. There are usually no windows. We are not prone to look heavenward. All that is above us is a black ceiling and speakers. We approach each Sunday as we would any concert or entertainment venue. Jesus is portrayed as merely our friend. God no longer is seen as “OTHER.”

We have dumbed down God to bring Him to our level!

I am not advocating the return to cathedrals. First, this would be cost-prohibitive. Second, while you sense an awe in a cathedral, there is also a cold, impersonal feeling. The modern church has leveled the playing field regarding the closeness of God, but they have lost the awe of God in the process. What is the answer?

Jesus called us friends, but He also called Himself Lord. Jesus humbled Himself when He became a man, but He never ceased being God. While Jesus walked this earth, He was a humble carpenter, but when He rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven, He was seated at the right hand of the Father. He did so as the glorified Christ. He no longer walks around in a robe and sandals.

John gives us a glimpse into the Jesus we now serve.

“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation 1:12-18 NLT)

John’s reaction to what he saw is a mirror of Paul’s summary of the Lord at the end of Romans, Chapter 11. While Jesus still reaches down to us and calls us into intimate fellowship with Himself, He stands as the glorious one, the one with eyes like flames of fire. Jesus is the risen, glorified, holy, and wonderful second person of the Godhead. He is not our next-door neighbor or our chum from high school. Jesus is the Creator, the Holy One, the God who is to be revered and worshipped.

We cannot dumb down God to our level.

The wonder is that God reaches down to us at our level. We cannot bring Him down to our level, but He freely reaches down to us. We hear Him say, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the living one, I died, but look-I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”

Paul, after contemplating the wonders of God’s grace to the Gentiles and His future promise of restoring the nation of Israel by His mercy and grace, throws up his hands, looks to the sky, and prays…

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever!“ (Romans 11:33-36 NLT)

What should I glean from all of this? The answer is not found in a cathedral or the modern landscape of today’s sanctuaries. It has nothing to do with what surrounds us, but it has everything to do with the focus and perception of our hearts. We are never called to bring God down to our level. He freely comes to us. This is the wonder of His mercy and grace. We should never be fully comfortable with this or take it for granted.

Like looking at the high ceilings in a Cathedral, we should look heavenward, standing in awe of God’s majesty and glory, with our hands lifted and our hearts filled with praise!

His ways are not our ways. He is not our “buddy.” He is the Lord God of all Creation. He is not to be approached casually, yet He calls us into His presence freely. He is high and lifted up, yet He calls us into His throne room through the blood of His Son. He is the Most High God, yet we can call Him “Abba” because of all that Jesus Christ has done for us.

The only response we can give to such a God is our worship!

Heavenly Father, help me to rediscover Your majesty while I walk in the unfathomable wonders of Your mercy and grace. As I come into Your presence, boldly through the blood of Jesus Christ, may I come in sincerity, humility, and worship. Create a cathedral in my heart where I can always look up and proclaim the wonders of Your grace, mercy, and love!

In Jesus’ Name!