The Most Important Thing In The Universe

In our Bible study class this week, we discussed the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Before He does this great miracle, Jesus says “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)

Our teacher asked “what are the ways you see God glorified?”

The answers were so beautiful, I just had to jot them down.

First, a silence while people thought, then, “in a sunrise”. Another quiet moment.

“I see His glory early in the morning, when the birds are singing”. Much agreement.

I piped up, “The other night, a huge clap of thunder woke me up, and I was amazed and kind of terrified by it’s power and thought immediately of what it means to ‘fear God’- reverencing and realizing His awesome power. If a simple thunder clap is that powerful, how incredibly much more the one who thought of and created thunder?”

Then someone else said “On the opposite end of the spectrum, the other day I thought of how incredible God is as I watched a little baby hummingbird dart around. So tiny”, the woman speaking showed the size to be no more than an inch with her fingers, “just going here and there, doing what hummingbirds do.”

A pause of thoughtfulness. “The night sky”.

The old cowboy of the group said, “you know, there’s the song ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’; Abraham took Isaac up on a mountain; I think Jesus went on the mountain to pray, didn’t He? I was up in the mountains this past week and, you know, the cool air, the smell of fresh pine, there’s just something about it, kinda makes you want to stay a while.” People nodded their agreement at this example of God’s glory revealed.

A friend winked at baby Willa, wiggling in my arms as she answered, “how about the birth of a baby?” Everyone smiled our direction.

An older woman added, “You know I’d never seen the ocean until after we retired,” motioning to her husband beside her. “We got up real early to go down to the beach, so it wouldn’t be crowded, and it was just…” her sentence trailed off reverently.

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In Stuart Little, which we recently finished together as a bedtime read-aloud, there’s a wise and adorable scene: Stuart, the school-teacher-for-the-day, says to his class,

“Henry Rackmeyer, you tell us what is important.”

“A shaft of sunlight at the end of a dark afternoon, a note in music, and the way the back of a baby’s neck smells if its mother keeps it tidy,” answered Henry.

“Correct,” said Stuart. “Those are the important things. You forgot one thing, though. Mary Bendix, what did Henry Rackmeyer forget?”

“He forgot ice cream with chocolate sauce on it,” said Mary quickly.

“Exactly,” said Stuart. “Ice cream is important.”

What are the important things?

Maybe family closeness?

The shade of a generous tree on a hot day,

Good food and laughter at the same time,

Stories around the campfire with multiple generations?

Taking it further, what are things that are very important? Gravity, perhaps? Water and air?

Now, what is the most important thing in the universe?

Do you know?

The answer, unlike the other two questions, actually has a definitive answer.

The most important thing in the universe is God’s glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”

Psalm 145:10-12 “All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.” (All of Psalm 145, really)

Isaiah 43:7 “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made”

He has forever been being glorified, is in everything being glorified, and will forevermore be glorified. The best and most fulfilling thing we can do is choose to join in with the rest of creation in glorifying Him.

This week, look for God being glorified in His creation; there are so many ways! Take time to quiet yourself before God and just praise Him for who He is!

Our very purpose is to glorify Him, may we strive to do so every moment.