Isaiah looked around one day and saw "the Master sitting on a throne -- high, exhalted! and the train of his robes filled the Temple. Angel-seraphs hovered above him, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew. And they called back and forth one to another, Holy, Holy, Holy is God-of-the-Angel-Armies. His bright glory fills the whole earth. The foundations trembled at the sound of the angel voices ..."
It is incredible what Isaiah saw, obviously. It isn't everyday that one can see the Master sitting on a throne, not to mention all that other stuff.
Not even after late-night pizza have I witnessed seraphs. But a new study shows that not every amazing thing is all that amazing. Common sites, particularly nature, seems to increase one's tendency to believe in God.
Researchers at the Association for Psychological Science have released a new study that suggests that awe - specifically brought on by nature - does touch us in ways that suggest God is around. Psychological scientist Piercarlo Valdesolo of Claremont McKenna College and colleague Jesse Graham of the University of Southern California showed study participants either footage of BBC's "Planet Earth" nature documentary series or "neutral" news interviews. After watching the clips, Valdesolo and Graham asked participants "how much awe they felt while watching the video, and whether they believed that worldly events unfold according to some god's or other non-human entity's plan." The researchers said that the those who had watched "Planet Earth," a show which includes imagery of earth's waterfalls, canyons, jungles and mountain peaks, were more likely to believe in God and in more supernatural control than participants who had only watched the news.
Well, let's see: When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.
Wilderness (the news)
Cloud (the Glory of God)
Seems about right. But here's the most amazing thing. Even in the news, even in the wilderness, even in the depth of darkness, He comes, all amazing and glorified. Touching the earth, creating and re-creating all the time.
Waterfalls, canyons, jungles and mountain peaks -- all spectacular, all wonderful.
My God, the God-of-the-angel-armies, amazing.
Psalm 19:1 tells me that God's glory is on tour in the skies. "God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning. Professor Night lectures each evening... from sunrise to sunset, melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith. The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together."
That's our Amazing God. Showing himself through the mundane. Reaching down for us even when we can't quite reach up.
Amazing
No comments:
Post a Comment