Meditate on God’s Greatness

October 16, 2022 Author:Elder Liu Kerh Li

Living in a city state like Singapore, what our senses feel are mostly man made. The modern and majestic office towers, neighbourhood gardens that are fully equipped, HDB blocks that line the island, a comprehensive traffic network, bustling roads, information that continuously bombards your handphone or monitor screens. Moreover, with fast-pace living, our concentration is all focused on tackling present problems or things in which we are currently interested. These matters that grip our attention are of great importance. It could be something you need to resolve for your boss, a bank loan instalment, a child’s academic result, stocking up of family’s essentials, a brother or sister who is in need of comfort, results of your favourite football club, or the ups and downs of the stock market. Constantly living in this environment can be stifling. For this reason, when borders opened, Singaporeans flocked out of the country to sightsee and to relax. Travelling overseas to have fun is good. When we return from the trip, however, it’s almost always extremely tiring and would take days to recuperate. That said, travelling to countries to be near nature can be liberating at times. The enjoyment that nature brings to our sense is irreplaceable. When we are surrounded by nature, we feel small. We realise that nature indeed has many wonders that awaits our exploration and enjoyment. At the very moment, our troubles seem to fade away and is replaced by wonder and praise. But the one that deserves our praises should be its Creator.

In an afternoon of the year 1885, Carl Boberg was on his way home from a fellowship gathering with his friends. Along the way, he met a heavy downpour with thunder and lightning. The flowers and wheat ears in the field were swaying in the direction of the wind. Not long after, the stormed passed, and was replaced by a rainbow hanging across the sky. When he was back home, Carl opened the window facing the sea. There he heard church bells ringing from afar. Feeling inspired, he wrote the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” Later, someone incorporated this Swedish hymn to a Swedish folk song. Now, “How Great Thou Art” has echoes through churches worldwide, helping the children of God to praise God’s greatness.

Oh Lord, my God!
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee.
“How great Thou art! how great Thou art!”
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
“How great Thou art! how great Thou art!”

Boberg’s production did not involve miracules or wonders. His inspiration comes from observing nature in everyday life and what God has revealed in the Bible. Although our living environment is different from that of Boberg’s, God’s work is everywhere. It could also be right beside us. Flowers and greeneries in the garden could be planted by someone. Someone could be rearing fishes in the pond. Yet they are the miraculous creation of God. The difference is they are nurtured by the hands of men.

Although city dwellers like us have fewer chances of coming in touch with nature, it does not hinder us in the way we feel and experience God. God’s word is the way we experience Him. Bible tells us the God is the creator of nature, and its protector. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth” (Psalm 19:1-6). “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39). God’s greatness encompasses anything in every way. It is worth spending our lives to experience and discover them. Never set your eyes on short term problems and manmade pleasures.

translated by Chew Elaine

Pastoral Letters