Full of His Glory?

Isaiah had a vision of heaven. God was on His throne and all of creation worshipped Him. In many church services down through the centuries, this verse has been quoted, often with the chiming of bells. It is called The Sanctus (which means “holy” in Latin.)

The earth is full of His glory. Is this verse a wish, a prophecy, or a pipedream?

If you glanced at the news today, you might wonder the same thing. Violence, mass shootings, drug wars, and political bashing dominate the broadcasts. People seem angry, self-focused, and intolerant. Language that made our grandmothers blush is commonplace. Natural disasters are daily news items. The earth doesn't seem so glorious. In fact, it sort of seems like it is spinning out of control.

But God is still on His throne. He is still holy and worthy of praise. He has not turned His back on us here on earth or thrown up His hands in frustration. Isaiah may have been a prophet, but what he recorded the seraphim singing is as true today as it was thousands of years ago. Even on the worst day, the Lord is the same. Goodness in His nature. Love is His motive. Grace and mercy are His desires.

He still provides blessings, even in the midst of tragedies. We may just have to focus a little harder with eyes of faith in order to see them. When we do, let’s remember to give Him the glory and praise Him as the seraphim do.

Almighty, everlasting, holy Lord, let us not lose heart, but seek your blessings in our life every day. Then, let us be bold enough to point them out to others who seem distressed or discouraged. We pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.

Go Deeper — Make an effort this week to focus on the positives instead of the negatives and to give God the glory no matter what goes on. Then do a self-check to determine if your days have seemed less stressful and your attitude less tense.