Awesome!
“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.” Psalm 33:8 KJV
Think back over your life and see if you can come up with five really awesome things you remember. The only thing hard about that might be limiting it to five things. It’s strange how our views on awesome change, isn’t it?
When you are a little kid, getting ice cream can be a really amazing event. My little grandson, who is a little over one year old, is awed by tires. We were at a school playground. He grabbed my hand and started walking really fast. I was wondering where he wanted to go. When we went a little distance, I knew exactly where we were headed. He saw some school buses, and their big tires, and he wanted to check them out. Once we checked them out, he was ready to head back to the playground for some more playing.
Sometimes we can use the word “awesome” to describe meeting someone famous or being at a show or concert. Receiving an award, or someone special surprising you by showing up at your doorstep, unexpectedly, could give you an awesome feeling.
Sitting here thinking, I came up with five awesome things in my life. They are sprinkled throughout my life. I remember each of them leaving me with a feeling of “Wow!” Then I was on top of the world.
The first one I remember was a trip to see Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace when I was little. I was interested in history at a very early age and my little eyes were in absolute awe at being able to walk around the cabin in which Lincoln was born.
My wife and I returned a few years ago and we were told that it wasn’t actually the cabin he was born in. They had done some tests and determined it was newer than the time he was born. “He was probably born in one similar to this one,” was their explanation. I was a little disappointed.
One of the traits most of the Presidents have in common is they seemingly lack an awe of the Presidential position. Maybe they just spend so much time campaigning that they start believing everything on their posters.
In the early Presidential elections, the candidates couldn’t appear to want the job. If they did, it would guarantee defeat. It wasn’t that they didn’t actually want the job, they just had to act like they would only do it if everyone else wanted them to. Even most of those weren’t in awe of the Presidency.
Most Presidents feel they are the most qualified person for the job. A job is exactly how they look at it. A very powerful job with a lot of people they are in charge of. That lust for power, or the ability to prove they can right the ship better than anyone, seems to be the most important thing to them.
Then you have other Presidents who get thrown into the position who are completely overwhelmed by the job itself. They don’t think, “This is an awesome job.” Instead, they tend to think of, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Most of those overwhelmed Presidents, but not all of them, come into the Presidency by being Vice President and having the President die while he is in office. This would thrust them into the White House. John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, and Chester Arthur are a few of those. But you could also add, some who weren’t a Vice President, like Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter.
One of the strangest things I’ve notice in my life, and in the lives of so many others, is that we have to be brought down really low before we will turn to God. I guess we just believe we have got it all under control.
When things start to take a turn south, we just try to fix them ourselves. After that doesn’t work, we start the planning of our pity party with the theme of how bad the world is treating us. If that fails to do the trick, and it usually does, we offer God “suggestions” that we call prayers. If He will do this (what we want) then everything will all work out.
I’m not exactly sure what it is that we are expecting. Do we just want to get our way? Are we just so wise that our “suggestion” is the only logical answer to our dilemma? Perhaps we are looking at God as some magic vending machine that we can put in our payment (our prayer) and out pops what we want.
At times I think we think of God as some flawed Father, who just needs a little talking to in order to make the right decision. Maybe we think of him as a best friend. We approach it with a “Hey, buddy” attitude. Very often we put God on our level.
Other times we interpret God’s way our way. How many times have you heard or said: “I don’t believe a loving God would …?” You can finish the sentence. Or, how about: “I just think God wants me to be happy?” When I was very young there were many fun things my parents wanted me to do that I would throw a tantrum and shout I didn’t want to do. Guess what? A few of those things made my awesome list.
My second awesome memory also comes from my childhood. Stamp collecting was a hobby my Dad got me interested in. Around the Bicentennial, there was a huge stamp show in Philadelphia. Our family went on vacation at that time and we went to the show.
I was in awe. There were countries all over the world that issued stamps in honor of our Bicentennial. Postal Services from all over the world offered to sell you their Bicentennial stamps. I was able to purchase a few of those. The United States Postal Service also issued a really cool set of stamps that formed a picture on a single sheet. There were several different sheets in this set.
When a stamp is issued, the USPS performs a ceremony called “The First Day of Issue.” There is a special “First Day of Issue” cancellation you can have applied to those stamps issued on that one day. Some companies make special envelopes for these stamps. At this show, you could buy the stamps and the envelopes. Then you could put the stamps on the envelopes yourself and watch the special cancellation be applied. This is exactly what we did.
I was so excited about my new treasure and I was sure it was going to be worth a fortune one day. Being older today, I now realize that we did not put the stamps on very smoothly and the cancellations were a little smudged, so they are probably not going to ever reach the value I once thought they would.
My third thrill was being there to see my son being born. I was just so in awe of being a father to a brand new baby boy. One minute he wasn’t there and the next, my whole world changed. What an awesome treat!
Time lends itself to different events and sometimes those events affect our relationships. Kids grow up. That little baby who took your breath away, becomes a young man. You wonder how it all changed.
You could probably count on one hand the Presidents who were awed by the Presidency itself. The very capable George Washington was one. Washington understood the task before him, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t awed by the position itself.
Washington was a somewhat self-made man, who prided himself on everyone thinking highly of him. He realized he was setting the groundwork for something great, though. With such respect for that position, and him setting many of the precedents future Presidents would follow, he treated the position with the utmost respect.
Another one I believe was in awe of the Presidency was Ronald Reagan. I have heard it said he would not even enter the Oval Office without a suit on. Many accused of him of acting the role, but at least he did it with dignity.
But there is another one, I believe, who also had a great deal of respect and awe for the Presidency. Like many of the others thrust into that position, I believe he felt totally unqualified. He stepped up to the challenge, but he also knew the job was much bigger than he was.
The Bible is full of stories of people who had expectations, like we do, on how God should relate to us. Those stories are usually followed by disappointments or lessons. Evidence seems to indicate, God is not fond of someone else doing His job.
Despite its length, the Bible has very few individuals who seem to be awed by God Himself. Mighty events or miracles may alter their views, but as far as a daily walk, there aren’t many Biblical characters who woke up every morning in awe of God.
Of course, Jesus was one who was in awe of God, but those closest to Him, His disciples, often seemed filled with doubt about what God was capable of accomplishing. Jonah just felt he knew what direction he should travel better than God. Adam and Eve thought an apple could make them as wise as God. A king thought he could prove his all mighty powers by throwing Daniel into the lion’s den. And a crowd of people laughed when a man started building an ark in a desert.
But the Bible does mention some who were awed by God. Usually God accomplished great things through them because of that awe. One can’t help but think of the little lad who had no doubts he could kill the giant. Elijah and Elisha, both great prophets, refused to cave into popular opinion. It was the popular crowd, not them, that suffered.
Although he had to be struck with blindness first, Paul never doubted God, and was in awe of Him, after his eyes were open again. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had no doubts their God was greater than any heat a furnace could produce.
There is a story in the Bible that really illustrates the difference of opinions people have about the awesomeness of God. In a way, it’s a sad story of how popular conceptions can sway people’s view of God’s awesomeness. Much like today, the majority opinion seemed to rule that day, too.
My fourth thrill happened on my only trip to California. I have always liked the Presidents, but like everyone else, I do have my favorite, or at least the favorite from my lifetime. Mine is Ronald Reagan. It wasn’t necessarily anything Reagan stood for, but more how he helped us heal from division and our discouragement over our country’s direction. He also helped with our economy, which was a total disaster.
Reagan reminded us of what a great country we really had. There were very few people who disliked Reagan. They may not have agreed with him or his policies, but very few people disliked him. Since we didn’t even really like each other, having someone show us how to be likeable ourselves translated into us starting to think of each other as neighbors again.
In California, I got to visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. That, in itself, was quite awesome. But that was not the most awesome part. As I was walking around the grounds, I turned a corner and there was his grave. I did not even feel worthy of being there.
Sadly, those days Reagan worked so hard for, seem so long ago. Those days have been replaced by a very hostile political environment. It’s not just the current President, although he has accelerated that hostility. Both political parties, and the last few Presidents have had a “my way or the highway” attitude.
My fifth awesome event happened at a church. When I went through my divorce, I really felt the church I was attending, while I was married, let me down. When we separated, I started looking for “my own” church. I felt like a diseased leper at almost every church I attended. Week after week I would sit in the pews. I tried attending classes and events, but no one seemed to be interested in me.
Since I had my son every other week, I didn’t want to bounce around between churches while he was with me. I decided to check out other churches on the weeks I didn’t have him. One Sunday, I went to a small country church not too far from my house.
I was overwhelmed by how friendly everyone was. It seemed everyone wanted to shake my hand. As I sat in the pew, I noticed that they were having their children’s musical the next week. I decided to take my son the next week.
It was an older group that mainly attended this church. They all treated me like a grandson, especially when I brought my son. I think they were touched that a man wanted to bring his son to church.
Soon I realized they had a puppet group. I had been involved in many puppet groups in the past. I decided to check out the group. The pastor’s wife led the group. She was a very humble, sweet lady who had made many of the puppets herself. It was a great group to be part of.
One day, the pastor announced that he and his wife were leaving the church to return to their hometown in Pennsylvania. I was so sad. They asked me to take over the puppet group. I was so honored. I felt this church was giving me a second chance.
They gave me a key to the church. On my first day leading the puppet group, I got there a couple of hours early. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t disappoint anyone and that I had everything ready. But before I could do that I had one more task I had to do.
The first thing I did when I arrived at the church was to walk into the sanctuary. Slowly I walked to the front where the pulpit stood. I got down on my knees on the right side as you would face the pulpit. Before I could even find a word to say to God, tears rolled down my eyes.
I was so in awe of God and that He gave me another chance. I felt like a nothing, yet He was willing to give a nothing a second chance.
The Bible is full of stories about people seemingly wandering in the dark. Their paths are not very comfortable. Either they didn’t want to change or they just weren’t quite sure how to change. Some asked God for help and some didn’t. Even those who did ask already had preconceived ideas of how God should answer them.
Over and over again, God does one amazing thing after another, yet, people’s memory seems to forget how impossible what He once did seems to them now. He created everything. He flooded the entire earth. He opened a sea to swallow up a powerful nation’s military after His people safely crossed its divided waters.
Don’t forget Him knocking down the walls of Jericho with only trumpet blasts. A donkey talked. A boat was so filled with fish that it almost sunk. And a Son was raised from a cruel, brutal death. Yes, it never really sinks in how awesome God really is.
When this President was a young boy, and even when he was an adult, he could be described as middle class. Not many of your Presidents fit this mold. A lot of Presidents came from poor backgrounds. It’s almost like the struggling made them stronger.
On the flip side, there seem to be a lot of Presidents who came from well-to-do families. It’s almost like that extra financial boost gave them an advantage in life, and politics. So our President was one of those rare ones who wasn’t really poor, nor was he really rich.
He lived in a small Midwest town that, at the time, was a gateway to the western United States. At this stage in our history, our nation was enamored with the excitement of the untamed and undiscovered west. From his town, you could head to the west to the Oregon Trial or south to the Santa Fe Trail.
He would work on his family farm, which never experienced a bucketful of profits. Farming probably made him tough, but his eyesight made him a laughing stock. He would have a hard time making friends. His mother encouraged him not to play too rough because he might break his glasses. He would take up reading and music.
As World War I approached, he decided to join the army. His girlfriend wanted him to marry her before he left. He refused, saying, “I don’t think it would be right for me to ask you to tie yourself to a prospective cripple – or a sentiment.” When he returned home safely, they did get married.
It was in the army that he seemed to find his confidence. He would rise to the level of captain and he would impressively lead his regiment. His regiment was part of the Argonnnes campaign, the last major engagement of World War I. This was the turning point of his leadership life.
Returning home, he married his girlfriend. Starting a haberdashery was the next item on his agenda. The business failed miserably. He refused to go bankrupt and eventually paid off all the heavy debt.
His jump into politics was in an election for the judgeship of Jackson County. The position was more like a county commissioner opposed to what you might think of as a judge in a courtroom. From there, he would be elected a Senator of his state.
As a Senator, he would make a name for himself by leading a Senate committee to investigate corruption in military spending. Solidly supporting the President boosted his career, too.
When Henry Wallace, the Vice President, went off on his liberal view and somewhat bizarre mysticism, party leaders and the President became disenchanted and decided to dump him off the next election ticket. With some backroom deals, without his blessing, the Senator was promoted to the Vice President spot in the next election. Of course, the popular President was easily elected again and our Senator became Vice President.
This small Biblical band of twelve was no different. Well, at least most of them were no different. Time and again they were witnesses of God’s greatness. Then something would come up and they would just set new limits on the God they just saw as being awesome.
These twelve were sent out on a task. Over and over again they were amazed by what they saw. When they arrived back from their journey, they shared the treasures and memories they gathered on their trip. Awe would be the best description to describe the people’s faces as they shared their exploits.
But then there came a moment where they were called to stand up for the amazing things they witnessed. Instead of seeing the awesomeness of the God who exposed the wonders He was capable of producing, they chose to limit their God to their potential. Well, that was the case for all but two of them.
It was a large group that was gathered. Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Caleb, Hoshea, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Geuel, and Nahbi were their names. Twelve in all. They were getting ready to go on a very important mission. They were to represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Moses was their leader, and he was there to send them off to the Promise Land. They were to explore and bring back their report. It was a very exciting report they brought back. All of the exiles must have been so excited when they heard it. A land flowing with milk and honey. Huge produce that could feed an entire family. Their long wait and walk to freedom seemed to have found its reward.
Let’s not forget what they had to live through. They were slaves that were treated brutally. God’s awesome hands rescued them. They saw the plagues. When the firstborn of the Egyptians, and not their firstborn, died, they were there.
Stranded next to the Red Sea, they saw their God divide the waters so they could safely travel to the other side. Almost magically, they saw that same God close that same sea on the mighty Egyptian army that was chasing them. With one mighty wave of His hand, the whole army was gone.
Mighty God then gave them food and safety. They saw His might in a cloud above their temple. It told them when to move and when to stay put. They saw no limits in what God was capable of doing. Now this great promise land stood right next to them. It was theirs for the taking.
What could be better? “Let’s go!” must have been the command. It wasn’t.
From the group of twelve came the reply, “Woe! Hold on a moment. There’s more to the story. There are giants in them there hills. They will eat us alive.” Yet two, Caleb and Joshua (Moses changed Hoshea’s name) stood alone, reminding the other ten and the crowd of the awesome God that got them that far.
Majority rules, right? In this case it did. The ten others and the crowd voted that their God was not quite that awesome. The crowd even plotted to find another leader to replace Moses. Maybe their brutal slavery life wasn’t so bad after all. They could head back to Egypt.
Limiting God, or telling Him that he is not so awesome, or limiting what they thought He could do, didn’t go over very well with Him. Sounds like He just wanted to zap the whole group right there on the spot. Moses pleaded with Him not to do that and God relented.
But the ten who went in and saw his wonder and denied His awesomeness did get zapped. Only Caleb and Joshua would survive. The crowd was also punished. None of the crowd, except Caleb and Joshua, would ever step foot in the Promised Land. Instead, the crowd would travel around in the Wilderness for forty years. That was one year for each of the days those twelve spent seeing His awesomeness in the promise land.
On Harry Truman’s eighty-second day as Vice President, he was headed for a meeting with Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn. Someone caught him and told him to head to the White House instead. This was probably a little odd because President Franklin Roosevelt rarely asked him for any advice and he never attended any of the Cabinet meetings.
He arrived at the White House around 5:45 pm. Truman was ushered to Eleanor Roosevelt’s second-floor study. She then told him, “Harry, the president is dead.” Roosevelt had actually died around 4:35 pm.
That was how Truman came to feel the burden that was just unloaded on him. Searching all over the White House, a small, inexpensive Bible with red-edged paper was finally located. Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone stood at the edge of the Cabinet table and gave Truman the oath of office. Around 7:00 pm, Harry Truman became the thirty-third President of the United States. He was the seventh Vice President to ascend to the Presidency upon the death of a President. He was three weeks shy of his sixty-first birthday.
Truman’s first response to Mrs. Roosevelt was, “Is there anything I can do for you?” Eleanor responded, “Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now.”
Despite the fact that Truman probably felt totally unqualified for this awesome job, he immediately took charge and the Presidency never missed a beat. Even though Truman stood up to the challenges of being President, I think he always understood that the Presidency was always bigger than the man holding the office.
Sometimes we get really carried away by things we consider awesome. Most of those things, over time, seem to lose their luster. The President’s birthplace wasn’t really at that house. Smudges and wrinkles cause the priceless stamp to lose its value. The things a President worked so hard to achieve seem to fade like a distant dream.
We also limit our blessings because we forget how great our God really is. Our feet never step in that Promised Land because we see the obstacles as being bigger than our God. Like most Presidents, we think of ourselves as being bigger than the position God put us in.
Of my five awe inspiring events, only one has stood the test of time. When I stood up after my prayer, beside that pulpit in that small country church, my awe of God has never wavered. I still let Him down, but I have no doubts he can perform some really impossible miracles, even today. My God is an awesome God!
Prayer: Dear Mighty Father, thanks for being such an awesome God. Thanks for reaching down from your awesomeness and touching an undeserving fellow like me. Amen.
