IN ALL OF HIS GLORY

By Babbie Mason

You and I were created and called to make the beauty and greatness of God known in the whole earth. Our reason for existing is to bring attention to God, and point all the nations to Him. This is why you were born; to fellowship with God, to bring Him pleasure with your life and put His love on display to such an extent that others will desire this love and be convinced that they could not live another moment without Him.

As I ponder these thoughts, I am one of 1,432 passengers aboard the MS Zaandam, a luxury cruise liner in the Holland America fleet of ships. I have taken this cruise to the state of Alaska on a number of occasions but I never, ever tire of it. Our itinerary takes us from Seattle, Washington, up through the Canadian province of British Columbia, to the vast, beautiful land of the midnight sun.

On this particular balmy afternoon, everywhere I look I see God on display. Everything in Alaska is big. The water, the sky, the mountains, the fish, the birds, and the animals are all massive in Alaska. And I have often described the state as a place where God is ‘showing off’. As we sail through the crystal waters of the Pacific, I see an endless horizon where dark blue water meets light blue sky. The countless waves ripple and sparkle in the sun like diamonds. I am amazed that a ship weighing 60,906 gross tons and stretching seven hundred-eighty feet in length actually stays afloat. I look among the trees now and spot a brown bear out for an afternoon stroll along the distant shore. The evergreen trees stand tall and stately like a green blanket for as far as the eye can see. The grand eagle is as plentiful as sparrows as she soars in and out of tree branches looking for food to feed her young eaglets. The landscape of tall trees eventually turns into snow-capped mountains that stand majestically in the distance, providing a picture-perfect backdrop, complete with a waterfall cascading from its precipice. Then I see my favorite sight of all in the distance – The Hubbard Glacier. These impressive mountainous fields of blue compressed ice command attention. I am in awe of them, speechless for many moments. I break my silence as the glaciers calve, break off and crash into the sea below, creating a rumble that echoes through the valley like thunder. I recall and recite a favorite portion of Scripture from the book of Isaiah 55:12. “You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.” I witness first-hand, God on display, God showing off, God, in all of His glory.

When my co-writer, Donna I. Douglas and I wrote the song, “In All Of His Glory”, we desired to compose a song that contained the message and the story of the gospel. Within the length of the song we aimed to tell the story of the birth, the life, the death, the burial, the resurrection and the coming again of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The song, to our amazement, has proven to be one that has lasted long past its initial recording. The lyric is descriptive and inspiring. The melody is memorable and singable. But even much more than that, the message of the song, which carries the message of the Gospel, is timeless, changeless and compelling. After all, the Gospel message remains the greatest story ever told.

To see God in all of His glory, you do not have to look very far. Just -

• Look around - Savor the moment the next time you bite into a vine-ripened tomato, a sweet peach or a slice of cool watermelon so sweet that the juice runs down your arm. Then remember to thank God ‘Who richly provides all things for us to enjoy’, I Timothy 6:17.
• Look beyond - Make an effort to rise early and watch the sun come up on a brand new day and remember Psalm 118:24. ”This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it”.
• Look upward - Sing a song of praise the next time you pause long enough to catch a glimpse of the Big Dipper or the tail of a shooting star as it trails across a navy blue night sky. Then recall Psalm 19:1. “The heavens declare the glory of God.”
• Look inward - Thank God for His Son, Jesus our hope, for He is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”, Colossians 1:27. Then,
• Look in the mirror - For God, in all of His glory, is pleased to dwell in you. Just like the unforgettable landscape of Alaska’s vast great land displays how big and beautiful God is, even more, He is pleased to allow His glory to be revealed in you. Pay attention. Don’t miss Him. Look for an opportunity. God, in all of His glory, longs to show how great He is through you.

The name Babbie Mason is synonymous with gospel music. With twenty-four recorded projects to her credit, and having sung for three American presidents, she has been a featured guest in churches, women’s conferences, and popular Christian television programs worldwide. An exciting performer and communicator, Babbie touches the hearts of young and old with warmth, wit and wisdom. This singer-songwriter, author, college professor and TV talk show host resides with her husband, Charles, on a farm in west Georgia.